Image Above: An inspection team on location in Poland
NorDan, one of Europe’s leading timber composite window and door manufacturers, are proud to have become the first manufacturer of our kind to actively measure and monitor the health of the forests from which we source our timber.
We invited independent consultants Fortis Facades to analyse the Polish forests that are a vital part of our supply chain, checking important factors such as tree health, density and chronology of the trees, as well as the quality and yield of timber.
Fortis Facades’ ‘BIOME’ division employed the use of scientific methods to assess the condition and sustainability of the NorDan forests in Poland. These methods involve a variety of techniques, including tree boring and core sampling, surveying, geotagging and ecological surveys to establish the health of the trees and the soil they are grown in. This helps to guarantee the quality of the timber and ensure good forestry practices are used to maintain the sustainability of the woodlands.
The initiative reflects NorDan’s approach to sustainability, which runs from the performance of our products through to the way they are manufactured and how raw materials are sourced.
Technical specification advisor, Tom O’Sullivan taking part in tree analysis in Poland
Tom O’Sullivan, technical specification advisor at NorDan UK, who has been involved in the project, explained: “Timber is at the heart of our products, delivering thermal performance, longevity and low embodied carbon. We want to ensure that every piece of wood we use not only meets the highest quality standards but also aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship."
“That is why we invited Fortis Facades to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the trees we use in our supply chain. This meticulous approach will not only help us ensure that the timber we use is robust, sustainable and of the highest quality, it will also help safeguard the continued health of the forests and their environment long-term.”
Fortis Facades, a leading façade consultancy, created BIOME to use meteorological, climatic and environmental sciences to understand how its products impact the climate and interact with a changing world.
Thomas Ashfield of Fortis Facades added: “As the natural world changes, so do the resources we have become dependent upon. Climate change impacts the health, condition and availability of natural resources, including timber for construction. Our response and approach to understanding, monitoring and employing the use of natural resources must adapt accordingly."
“The ability to not only monitor and assess current conditions but also to forecast future trends is invaluable and a necessity for securing sustainable resources. This enables us to serve as more effective custodians, not only of the materials we harvest but also of the landscapes we ultimately shape and need to maintain."
This new initiative is just one example of how the entire NorDan Group prioritises sustainability, including advanced production techniques to enhance the timber’s durability and resistance to environmental factors, guaranteeing a long lifecycle for our products. NorDan provides a 30-year warranty to all windows and doors against fungal attack, decay and rot.
We have focused on reducing our environmental impact since the 1960s which is why we are a proud market leader when it comes to sustainability and reducing embodied carbon. Much of the energy used in our production processes is sustainable, including using timber offcuts to heat our factories, a 10,000 m² solar farm to power our factory in Powodowo, Poland, and using our own hydroelectric power station to generate energy at our Norwegian factory in Moi.
