Sustainability

It was concern about the destruction of the world’s indigenous forests that inspired the establishment in 1976 of the medium density fibreboard (MDF) plant now owned and operated by Daiken New Zealand.

An outstanding visionary and kiwi entrepreneur, Owen Haylock could see the new MDF technology had the potential to turn virtually worthless ‘waste’ wood into a substitute building material. If it could be successfully produced and  marketed, this would reduce pressure on the world’s remaining indigenous forests.

That focus on the environment has never changed. Today Daiken New Zealand is proud of the plant’s impressive environmental credentials.

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Responsibly Sourced Wood

Unlike the vast majority of the world’s MDF, Customwood is made from exotic plantation-grown radiata pine trees. These forests are mostly located a short distance from the plant.

When the trees are milled the premium wood is sent to sawmills to be processed into lumber. The remaining wood is processed into Customwood. There is plenty of raw material available because Canterbury’s strong north-westerly winds and low rainfall mean a lot of the wood is not suitable for timber because it lacks strength.

Whenever possible, Daiken New Zealand sources wood harvested from plantations that meet the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) stringent environmental, social and economic standards. Product made from this wood carries the FSC certification label. Click here for details.

We never source:

• Wood that has been illegally harvested
• Wood from forest areas of high conservation value
• Wood from genetically (transgenic) modified trees
• Wood from natural forests converted to plantations or non-forest use
• Wood harvested in violation of traditional or civil rights

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Stringent Monitoring of the Environment & Human Health

New Zealand has some of the most stringent environmental and labour laws in the world. We constantly monitor conditions to ensure we are managing our operations in an environmentally responsible manner. For example:

Water

We monitor water quality (underground and surface) to ensure our effluent treatment process and discharge methods are non contaminated. We also monitor drinking water quality for staff.

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Air

We strictly monitor formaldehyde emissions. An external agent completes an annual survey of wood dust and formaldehyde. We also regularly measure wood dust.

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Noise

We monitor plant noise using an external surveyor every 5 years or every time there is a significant change in machinery or process.

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Health & Safety

We have one of the best health and safety records in New Zealand. We undertake intensive training of staff and contractors on health and safety matters and complete an annual survey of employee’s general health.

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Low Formaldehyde Emitting Product

By working with resin makers, we have developed a range of Customwood products that meet the exacting Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) for formaldehyde emissions. The highest grade, F4 Star (also known as Super EO), has formaldehyde levels similar to wood.

Customwood also complies with the equally rigorous California Air Resources Board (CARB) limits on formaldehyde emissions. This represents a de facto national standard for the US.

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Environmental Initiatives

• 75% of the energy consumed in the manufacture of Customwood MDF is obtained by burning renewable fuels (bark, wood residues, etc).
• 100% of the waste water is treated and then used for irrigation on farmland.
• Several initiatives on-site aim at the recycling of cardboard, office paper and containers.

Certificates

Daiken NZ Customwood Certifications.

Click on the links below to download PDF's

Environmental Choice New Zealand
JIS Certificate
Rangiora FSC COC Certificate
Certificate Of Registration ISO9001:2008
CARB Certificate

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click here for free download.