In the Netherlands, many people work passionately with biomass as a raw material. They work on innovations, improve (production) processes or create policy for a fossil-free future. In this mini-series we highlight what drives them to work on the transition to a sustainable world.
In Drachten we find Fiberplast Group, a supplier of sustainable floor and facade solutions. Their mission is clear: delivering total solutions with a strong emphasis on biobased and circular construction. We spoke with CEO Walter Wieten and Commercial Director Gert Vos about their view on the future of the construction industry.
Walter Wieten first worked in the metal sector. He saw a lot of building material passing by. His interest was aroused by wood composite, a material that is made from waste streams of both plastic and wood.
“I didn't know that material at all at the time and wanted to know more about it. A product made from waste that also requires little maintenance, that intrigued me. I started to delve deeper into it and was able to gain a lot of substantive knowledge of the different types of wood composites that were available at the Wood Research Foundation in Wageningen. I found it so interesting that I wanted to do more with it,”
This was the starting signal for the establishment of Fiberplast Group in January 2007, with an emphasis on high-quality wood composite decking and scaffolding planks.
The pursuit of the best possible product led them to develop their own recipes to produce composites that are resistant to weather influences (also on the coast), colourfast and low-maintenance. By collaborating with partners in China, Poland and Germany and using hardwood waste from the furniture industry, they were able to deliver high-quality products.
“The wood composites that were on the market at the time did not fully meet the properties I wanted in terms of quality requirements,” Walter shares. “I wanted a seawater-resistant composite, because we are in a wetland area. I also wanted to use the product at great heights, such as apartment complexes or galleries. Then you must also meet a certain fire class certification. The wood composites that were available at that time turned gray at some point and were not colourfast. We have therefore developed our own recipe. We have our composites in 3 colors and are low-maintenance, so if there is any damage, you do not have to touch them up. Envirodeck is one of the few composites that meets the required fire classifications for galleries and escape routes.”
Due to its distinctive anti-slip properties, one of the first major orders was the supply of wood composites for the Vlieland marina, a project that proved the durability and performance of their products under extreme weather conditions. But Fiberplast Group did not stop there. They expanded their range to rice husk composites, which offer biobased and circular solutions for facade and terrace cladding, while retaining the warm appearance of wood but without the disadvantages such as moisture absorption and rot. Are available in 4 thoroughly colored profiles.
Walter: We don't have an end goal in mind, I prefer the journey. The only thing that often slows us down is European regulations, material from construction is waste, while we see it as a raw material for new products. As soon as a raw material is seen as waste, you now have to deal with difficult regulations. It may then only be transported by a waste processor. It could be much faster if we were allowed to transport this ourselves, directly to our factories.
In addition to providing high-quality products, Fiberplast is known for their advice and support to customers, striving for maximum efficiency and minimum waste. This goes hand in hand with their commitment to circular use of materials, where they even collect residual waste from construction sites and reuse them in their production process.
“We provide advice and support, because if you want to get the maximum return from our wood composites, you have to take the possibilities and yes, also the limitations into account,” Gert notes. “In some cases it requires different mounting methods and techniques. This form of project support is increasingly requested these days.”
The ambition of Fiberplast Group is clear: within five years they only want to develop, produce and supply 100% circular products, while maintaining quality and performance. They believe in a circular world and aim to replace the linear model of 'take, make, waste' with a more sustainable approach. Currently, 60 to 70% of their products are produced in Poland and Germany. Walter: “We also want to move the remaining production that is currently in China to Poland within 3 to a maximum of 5 years.”
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is there Fiberplast not just 'something'. “We want to make a significant contribution to improving our living environment,” Walter shares. “We not only strive for a sustainable return on our work, but also monitor the effects of our activities on the environment and on people within and outside the organization. Look ahead, choose to take the lead and take the next step. Raw materials are scarce and it is clear that something needs to change quickly in the way we deal with them. This means thinking differently and, above all, acting differently.”
