3A Composites Core Materials commits to sustainable growth, harvesting and processing of balsa wood

3A Composites Core Materials (Sins, Switzerland), known for its portfolio of high-performance, sustainable core materials (and a primary focus on PET foam and balsa wood) has signed a two-year technical cooperation agreement with the Achuar Nationality of Ecuador to promote sustainable forestry practices and responsible growth, harvesting and processing of balsa wood — Ochroma pyramidale, commonly known as the balsa tree — for indigenous communities. The Achuar Nationality of Ecuador is recognized and protected by the Ecuadorian Constitution as a nonprofit organization with the primary goal of restoring, preserving and diffusing its culture, language and traditions.

The scope of the technical cooperation agreement will enable the Achuar Nationality to transfer the knowledge of best practices regarding forestry and silviculture. This includes the establishment of balsa plantations in the territory of Achuar (i.e., training in selection of suitable land, seed selection, land preparation and nursery), the maintenance of balsa wood plantation using silviculture best practices (i.e., thinning, clean up, plague and disease control procedures aligned with sustainable forestry guidelines, forestry inventory) and harvesting (i.e., quality criteria and usable volume estimations, sawmilling techniques, environmental and legal regulations for wood harvesting).

Achuar Nationality will be in charge of the entire operation with 3A Composites Core Materials as the provider of technical and legal assistance not involved in any commercial transaction of the wood resulting from the company’s plantations. With what it says is more than 80 years of experience in mastering the industrial production of balsa wood, 3A Composites Core Materials says it is committed to ensure that neighboring communities, as well as indigenous and native people, can secure sustainable and responsible income for generations to come.

Balsa wood, due to its weight-to-mechanical-properties ratio, high stiffness and light weight, is widely used in the renewable energy, marine, aerospace, automotive and building and construction industries. As 3A Composites Core Materials owns and manages several hectares of FSC-certified plantations in Ecuador and Papua New Guinea, it is able to ensure the delivery of sustainable, responsible and reliable balsa wood supply to the industrial markets globally.