Thank you WEC
for choosing tropical timber

And thank you for taking the time to listen to the story behind tropical wood.

WEC as a Forest Protector

Sustainability was a top priority in the development of the WEC. The building is highly energy-efficient and gas-free, with all systems running on electricity. In addition to a fossil-free energy supply, the building uses sustainable materials, including recycled FSC-certified tropical hardwood supplied by Hupkes Wijma. Recycling tropical wood is not only the best way to maximize its use (by extending its lifecycle), but it also helps reduce waste volumes. FSC Recycled is the only label for recycled materials, and only products that consist of 100% recycled materials may carry the FSC Recycled label. Tropical hardwood has several properties that make it highly suitable for recycling, making it an extra sustainable choice.

“Every decision made in the construction of the new WEC was based on sustainability — including the reuse of tropical hardwood. The Basralocus wood began its life in the forests of Suriname, then served for fifty years as mooring posts in the port of Kiel, and has now been given a third life as sunshades and decking in our building. A responsible choice, with a beautiful story and a bold look that fits the character of the building. As WEC, we are proud to promote the importance of sustainable choices, and we find it incredibly valuable that FSC is giving this story a larger platform.”
Hester de Vries – Marketing Manager at WEC

“We support sustainable forest management worldwide by choosing FSC-certified hardwood, which helps us combat deforestation and protect valuable forests from destructive land use. At the same time, we minimize waste and give existing tropical wood a second life by using FSC Recycled wood.”
Jeroen Veldkamp – Project Manager & Residential Sales, Hupkes Wijma

“We are extremely proud to have had the opportunity to realise this beautiful building in such a unique location. The WEC incorporates over 200 reclaimed Basralocus mooring posts from the port of Kiel, which have been given a new purpose — including in the stunning sunshade structure on the roof, and throughout the interior. By choosing FSC-recycled tropical hardwood, we’re not only giving existing materials a second life, but also showing that aesthetics and sustainability can go hand in hand. It’s a tangible example of how circular construction and responsible forest management can strengthen one another.”
Biense Dijkstra – Director of Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma

Want to know more about the use of tropical wood, FSC, and tropical forests?

Listen to what researcher Joeri Zwerts and Mark Kemna from FSC Netherlands have to say about it.

Campaign: ‘Wood here, forest there’

The bus shelters at the WEC are part of the multi-year campaign ‘Wood here, forest there’. With this campaign, FSC Netherlands aims to raise awareness about everyone’s impact on protecting (tropical) forests.

As part of the campaign, FSC launched this online knowledge platform featuring the most frequently asked questions and common beliefs about tropical wood, along with corresponding facts and arguments. Through this, FSC primarily aims to increase awareness of our personal role in forest conservation. By spotlighting projects like the WEC and previously the IJ Boulevard, FSC hopes to inspire and motivate other organizations to follow their example.

Click on the various topics on the right side of this page to test your knowledge about tropical wood.

“We often notice that people choose not to use tropical wood in an effort to protect tropical forests. But responsible timber harvesting is never the cause of deforestation. By choosing FSC-certified (tropical) wood, sustainable forest management is rewarded. As a result, there is no financial incentive to convert the forest into agricultural land, such as soy plantations or cattle ranches. This means the forest can remain intact.”
Wyke Smit, Director of FSC Netherlands