Biomass Facts is made possible by the generous support of companies and organizations to government agencies. Thanks to the involvement of these parties, we can continue our work and take an objective, informative look at the versatile world of biomass. We are grateful for the support and look forward to working together to increase awareness and knowledge about biomass. In a series of articles 'In the Spotlight' we let these organizations and companies tell us what they stand for and what they are doing in the field of bio-raw materials.
By: Staatsbosbeheer Dutch wood
Staatsbosbeheer manages approximately 275.000 hectares of land for the Dutch company, of which approximately 100.000 hectares is FSC certified forest. We were founded exactly 125 years ago to bring poor 'waste' land to sustainable use. In other words, forest planting and its management. But we no longer produce wood alone. We also provide a living environment for people, plants and animals. Briefly summarized in three pillars: Protect, Experience and Utilize.
Hollands Hout is the Staatsbosbeheer label under which we market our quality wood. We do this by offering a lot of added value. We have trunks sawn into planks and beams. These are then dried and planed, ready to be processed into beautiful applications in, for example, interior design and construction. We have a storage location so that we can deliver quickly from stock.
Staatsbosbeheer has a high level of brand recognition. Almost all Dutch people know our organization for the beautiful nature reserves and forests, but also for the floodplains, forts, outdoor centers and camping sites. It is therefore a surprise to many that Staatsbosbeheer also actively produces wood and other natural raw materials.
The Netherlands wants to be completely circular by 2050, using as many renewable raw materials as possible. Naturally, as the largest land owner in the Netherlands, we would like to contribute to this by providing natural raw materials. This is done by using the CO2 stored in it as high-quality as possible and for the longest possible duration. In the transition to this biobased economy, we are therefore actively working with market parties with the common goal: How can we keep the fiber in the chain for as long as possible? Wood is the most accessible raw material at the moment, but grass and clippings also offer good prospects.
The Netherlands wants to be completely circular by 2050, using as many renewable raw materials as possible. Naturally, as the largest land owner in the Netherlands, we would like to contribute to this by providing natural raw materials. This is done by using the CO2 stored in it as high-quality as possible and for the longest possible duration. In the transition to this biobased economy, we are therefore actively working with market parties with the common goal: How can we keep the fiber in the chain for as long as possible? Wood is the most accessible raw material at the moment, but grass and clippings also offer good prospects.
Of course there are also challenges. Even though we have been living in wooden houses for thousands of years, in 2024 we still have to deal with building and regulations. We notice that we have to solve bottlenecks for domestic wood in order to be able to supply the wood for construction, such as fire requirements and sorting standards. With the Quality Assurance Act (WKB), which has been implemented since January 1 this year, this means: not regulated = not delivered. No matter how much the client would like it. We spend a lot of time getting this arranged for Dutch wood.
We also notice that the public's understanding of timber harvesting is decreasing. While practically everyone sits at a wooden kitchen table and sleeps in a wooden bed. So we need to do a better job of explaining that we proudly harvest healthy trees to make beautiful products that we use every day. And that in the Netherlands we harvest only half of the volume that grows in our forests every year. Besides, forest remains just forest. Timber harvesting doesn't change that. Staatsbosbeheer supports biomass facts to jointly convey this message, because our natural raw materials are part of the solution.
We use an average of 1 cubic meter of wood per person per year. How wonderful and obvious is it that the Dutch forests also partly provide this? And it is precisely with the Dutch Hout label that we can show appealing projects to make the production function of the forest tangible.
Online communication regarding timber harvesting is not the only tool for Staatsbosbeheer. We also want to provide more targeted information, for example in the forest. For instance, together with the Algemene Vereniging Inlands Hout (AVIH), we have already developed labels that are stapled onto the wood piles in the forest. This allows visitors to see the destination of each pile of logs. The website www.waargaatdithoutnaartoe.nl provides more background information. We notice that this works well, and we are currently developing variations on this. The transition to a bio-based economy is clearly noticeable to us. Together with other landowners and the business community, we can make a substantial contribution to this in the Netherlands. Let us therefore make sure to utilize this potential.
