The facility covers an area of about 68,600 sq. m and employs more than 200 people; it ensures continuous processing for about 300 days a year, for an annual production potential of about 40,000 tons of plywood panels.
Cultivation
10,000 hectares of poplar groves grown for Panguaneta, of which 50% is managed directly and 50% is purchased from qualified suppliers; 100% from controlled sources.
Cutting and replanting of trees
Each trunk cut down is replaced by a new plant: thanks to the rotation of crops and respect for the natural poplar growth cycle (10 years), the poplar grove is always alive.
Barking
In the nearby area, the logs are selected and barked.
Leafing
This procedure makes it possible to obtain the veneer for the subsequent composition phase. Secondary products are rounds (reused in packaging) and bark (intended for energy recovery).
Drying
The drying of the wood veneer is carried out with the thermal energy produced internally and 90% from renewable sources: virgin biomass.
Composition and glueing
Selection and composition of the layers using wood veneer with crossed fibres (alternating longitudinal and transversal fibres) to maximize the mechanical properties of the final product.
Pressing
The layered and glued panel is hot pressed.
Finishing
The plywood is squared, calibrated and smoothed and is eventually subjected to quality control.
Storage and warehouse
The plywood panels are stored in the warehouse and the final shipment is planned.
Human resources
Panguaneta recognises the value and dignity of work, therefore we are committed to guaranteeing a healthy work environment for all its employees. It promotes stable and long-lasting employment, and today 200 out of 206 employees are hired on a permanent basis; moreover, the turnover rate is low.
percentage of permanent employees
97%
Employees with permanent contracts
Employees with fixed-term contracts
Emission control and climate change
Panguaneta has halved its CO2eq emissions per ton of plywood produced, measured in the 2014-2020 period thanks to the GHG Inventory, above all through huge investments: the company relies on a cutting-edge thermal power plant which has made its production cycle self-sufficient in terms of energy. Emissions are constantly monitored and analysed, and records are kept so that the collected data can be analysed and evaluated.
ghg emissions (comparison 2014-2022)
(tCO2eq)
emissions intensity (comparison 2014-2022)
(kgCO2eq/ton product)
sources of ghg emissions (comparison 2014-2022)
2014
2022
Fossil fuels
Renewables
Energy efficiency
Panguaneta aims at energy efficiency, intended as the reduction of emissions and energy consumption per product unit. The thermal energy necessary for the production of plywood, such as drying and hot pressing, is now produced by the new thermal power plant fed with biomass, Which totally replaces fossil fuels.
Water resource
Thanks to the Environmental Management System, Panguaneta monitors water discharges and withdrawals to optimize the use of this precious resource.
Waste recovery
Most of the waste resulting from panel production is made up of processing scraps. With the installation of cutting-edge heating systems, Panguaneta uses waste to feed the boiler, allowing a significant increase in energy recovery. Another portion of the processing waste is sold and reused for applications in the wood sector.
percentage of waste sent for recovery out of the total
97%
Waste sent for recovery
Waste sent to landfill
Investments and innovation
In the last years, Panguaneta invested around 50% of the average annual turnover in technological innovation for the plants, thus increasing the efficiency of plywood production and reducing waste. Thanks to the substantial investments in the field of research and development, Panguaneta has developed a new gluing system for a new generation of plywood panels that combine environmental sustainability with their traditional and enhancing mechanical properties - lightness, ease of processing and versatility.
Risk management
By adopting the Risk Management principles, Panguaneta is able to promptly detect and solve any environmental, social and economic criticalities.
Towards Carbon Neutrality
Panguaneta has studied and assessed its Carbon Footprint through the LCA - Life Cycle Assessment, an analytical and systematic methodology that evaluates the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle. Through a three-year plan to reduce CO2eq emissions, it also aims at the neutralization of its Carbon Footprint and the achievement of Carbon Neutrality certification.
Organisation efficiency
Panguaneta is committed to global corporate social responsibility: in this regard, it has achieved the UNI EN ISO 9001 (quality management), UNI EN ISO 14001 (environmental management) and UNI EN ISO 50001 (energy management) system certifications.
Stable and safe work
Human resource management is a strategic aspect for Panguaneta, which implements various policies to grant a healthy, welcoming and fair work environment for everyone, with special attention paid to gender equality, particularly in specialized areas of the company, in compliance with the Code of Ethics.
Continuous training
Panguaneta is committed to fostering the workers’ training and participation. Our staff is qualified, competent, aware, motivated and involved in every phase of the business process.
Certified gender equality
Panguaneta ha adottato e certificato la prassi UNI PdR 125/22 per la Parità di genere e si impegna ad assumerne i comportamenti prescritti nella ricerca e selezione del personale, nella concessione dei congedi genitoriali, predisponendo questionari interni per prevenire eventuali situazioni di discriminazione e organizzando corsi di formazione e sensibilizzazione per promuovere la cultura di equità di genere.
Plywoodforlife is the Panguaneta sustainability website