Racing together: 5 things our wood shares with the Olympics

29.07.2024. On 26 July, France welcomed the world’s most iconic athletic competition, exactly 100 years after they were first disputed in Paris. Founded in Greece eight centuries before the current era, the games have evolved over time to express the values of ‘effort’, ‘excellence’, ‘respect’, ‘human dignity’, ‘harmony’ and ‘friendship’. Here are 5 things our certified wood products have in common with the world’s most famous sports games.

Rendez-wood with sustainability and performance at Carrefour du Bois

22.05.2024. Calling out to all wood enthusiasts: from 28 to 30 May 2024, the go-to rendez-wood is at INTERHOLCO's Stand F-25 Hall XXL, during Carrefour International Du Bois.

Our ‘Made in Africa’: sustainability and performance today, tomorrow and always!

Ecological construction: more efficiency, comfort and health for all with our wood products

07.02.2024. The Environmental and Health Declaration Sheets (EHDS) for our wood products are now available! Design a more sustainable, low-carbon building that has a limited impact on the environment, giving future occupants the gift of a healthy environment.

Wood you be my friend? Celebrating International Day of Forests 2023 with Kosipo and Tali

21.03.2023. Rest is an important time to recharge one’s batteries and have a healthy approach to daily work. Sitting by the pool, facing the river Sangha, an ingeniously built hut entices our colleagues in the Republic of Congo to kick back and enjoy their spare time. With long-lasting friends: Kosipo, a magnificent 8 meter long slab of wood hosting lunches and barbecues; and beautifully durable Tali, alternating with Padouk and Wenge, which artfully results in a superb decking.

The best kept secret in INTERHOLCO's Sustainability report 2022

08.07.2022. Just as 2022 marks INTERHOLCO’s 60^th anniversary, the company launches its latest Sustainability Report. ‘Our wood products are the fruit of a people alliance,’ says Ulrich Grauert, INTERHOLCO CEO. ‘With this publication, we want even people sitting miles away from where we harvest and process our wood to see what our  ‘Made in Africa’ stands for.’  

‘Sustainable Hardwood - Made in Africa’ breaks all records at Europe’s leading timber show

14.06.2022. INTERHOLCO’s ‘Made in Africa’ breaks all records at Carrefour du Bois, Europe's number one trade fair for the wood sector. INTERHOLCO has noted an unprecedented attendance rate and a strong increase in the number of foreign visitors, including several from the United States, Africa and Asia.

All you need is LOBI, to write a story 1300 children in Congo love

31.03.2022. Easter is fast approaching and INTERHOLCO is launching its new campaign: What does it take to write a story that 1300 children in Congo love?Only one crayon: Lobi! For each Lobi purchased, the equivalent of 15 EUR will be donated to the primary school in the village of Ngombé in the Republic of Congo.

1300 children from Ngombé’s school gain permanent access to clean water

22.03.2022. Increased access to education is closely linked with the availability of decent toilets. In the village of Ngombé in the North of the Republic of Congo, where INTERHOLCO’s production site is based, making sure schools are equipped with an adequate sanitation system has immense advantages.

Lobi, the art of writing the future

03.12.2021. INTERHOLCO is proud to present Lobi, the spearhead of its first collection made from FSC®* certified Sustainable Hardwood, Made in Africa according to the most demanding socio-environmental criteria. Lobi means 'tomorrow' and 'future' in the broadest sense; the name is derived from Lingala, the most widely used language in Congo Basin countries.

My human-kind choice: wood!

05.10.2021. FSC^®-certified (Forest Stewardship Council^® C022952) hardwood from Africa delivers so many benefits that it is quite hard to think of a comparably ‘generous’ construction or building material. In several Central African countries, forestry is already the first or second largest employment sector.

My choice for wind design: wood

15.09.2021. A building represents an obstacle to the wind flow. The wind exerts pressures on the building that generate forces perpendicular to the building surface. Therefore, a building must be designed and dimensioned to withstand the strongest winds that are likely to occur during its lifetime at its location.

My choice for organic shapes: wood!

31.08.2021. Boat and furniture builders have been bending wood for many years, to meet hydrodynamic and ergonomic requirements. In buildings, however, these techniques are relatively uncommon.

Certified wood, my sustainable design ally

27.08.2021. Wood is the only building material that ensures it comes from responsibly managed sources, in this case forests.

Bosse, a new form for sculpture

24.08.2021. Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) is a major representative of 20th century sculpture who developed modernism into a personal universe of her own, close to abstract art and strongly inspired by nature.

My choice for fire protection: wood!

30.07.2021. Wood is a flammable material, granted. But it also has innate flame-retardant properties. Wooden structures remain highly stable in the event of fire.

Bosse: frame your best moments

16.07.2021. What we remember in life, is the people we love, the places we’ve been and the memories we made along the way. The others are windows open onto ourselves. At INTERHOLCO, we take care of the frame. You decide who to invite on the journey.

Spotlight on: Bosse (Guarea cedrata, Guarea laurentii De Wild. and Guarea thompsonii Sprague & Hutch)

13.07.2021. Guarea cedrata, Guarea laurentii De Wild. and Guarea thompsonii Sprague & Hutch is all traded as Bosse. Evergreen, large tree up to 45(–55) m tall; bole branchless for up to 26 (–41) m, usually straight and cylindrical, sometimes fluted, up to 150(–200) cm in diameter, sometimes with spreading, blunt buttresses up to 3 m high.

My cost-effective choice: wood!

30.06.2021. Wood saves more or less one third of the time used in conventional building construction. Prefabrication frees the construction process from the uncertainty of weather events. 

My energy-efficient choice: wood!

02.06.2021. Buildings have extensive direct and indirect impacts on the environment. During their construction, occupancy, renovation, repurposing, and demolition, buildings use energy, water, and raw materials, generate waste, and emit potentially harmful atmospheric emissions.

Listening to forest peoples to deliver solutions

24.05.2021. In Baka language ‘Musungui’ means, ‘to help one another’. The spirit of ‘Musungui’ is what best describes INTERHOLCO’s ALLIANCE: the ability to deliver solutions, joining forces. One of the solutions is, in fact, listening. Listening makes it possible to pinpoint key factors, measures that need to be improved at strategy level. 

Kosipo: contemporary chic organic

11.05.2021. And now, for an unusual use of wood!  The choice of Kosipo, a superior hardwood that INTERHOLCO offers with FSC^® certification, draws the attention to the washbasin which acquires an aesthetically dominant role.

The future needs wood

03.05.2021.More than 1.000 fair trade job opportunities provide 10.000 people with the means to build their future with dignity in one of the most remote regions of the Republic of Congo. That is but one of the solutions that 'Sustainable Hardwood Made in Africa', INTERHOLCO's flagship product, delivers.

My healthy choice: wood!

26.04.2021. With more days per week and more hours each day spent at home, many of us struggle to calm their minds and find their balance. Even when working from home, we are bombarded by a constant hype, 24/7 distraction and endless barrage of pings from our phones. The solution? Wood can make us feel better, turning our home into a happier place.

Kosipo, quality in art

12.04.2021. Wood for carving must be dry, cannot be brittle and should not release its internal stresses when carved. The Kosipo (Entandrophragma candollei Harms) that INTERHOLCO offers with FSC^® certification meets all these criteria, exceeding them.

Spotlight on: Kosipo (Entandrophragma candollei Harms)

07.04.2021. Kosipo (Entandrophragma candollei Harms) or West African Cedar is a large tree growing in West Africa and the Congo Basin, reaching about 50 m in height. It grows a straight and cylindrical bole of more than 2 m in diameter. 

Slow Quality, a subtle rebellion

17.03.2021. With its exceptional properties, Africa’s Wengé wood which INTERHOLCO is proud to offer with FSC^® certification deserves first class manufacturing. As Japan’s leading manufacturer of wooden furniture, Karimoku proudly upholds a steady focus on quality.

Women on the front line against COVID-19

11.03.2021. The theme chosen for International Women's Day 2021, "Women's Leadership: For an Equal Future in the World of Covid-19", reflects an obvious fact: the importance of women's contributions. Faced with the health and social emergency caused by the pandemic in the Republic of Congo, INTERHOLCO has taken into account the leadership potential of women by involving them in its intervention strategy.

HIGH TECH and HIGH TOUCH

04.03.2021. With long hours now spent sitting at home, relax and comfort are vital for balance. Especially as many of us seek to blend work and personal life together. The warm tones of Wenge(Millettia laurentii), a dark, marbled wood that INTERHOLCO harvests sustainably in the Republic of Congo, bring the forest home – rescuing our connection with nature.

Objects of art on a mission: a closer look at Africa’s ‘Forest dwellers’

23.02.2021.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), between 2000 and 2010, large-scale commercial agriculture (generally related to cattle ranching and the cultivation of soya bean and oil palm) accounted for 40% of tropical deforestation, and local subsistence agriculture another 33%.

Africa’s forest dwellers win Conversations about Climate Change competition

15.02.2021. Gorillas, Bongos, Forest elephants and Chimpanzees team up with British architect Tom Wilson in ‘Forest dwellers’, one of the winners of the Conversations about Climate Change competition. Is it possible to sustainably harvest timber and natural products, contributing to ethical and sustainable economies, as well as safeguarding habitats, biodiversity and the health of the Earth? The four Forest Dwellers have been conceived to ask this very question.

Form and function: Wenge (Millettia laurentii)

28.01.2021. Such is the essence of home: a place in which the well-being of bodies is encouraged, food and sleep are taken care of; caresses and laughter instigated; a place in which affection grows deeper. Such is the essence of Wengé (Millettia laurentii), a dark, marbled wood that walks you like no other in your stories of laughter and joy, stillness and meditation, sharing and giving.  

Shining a light on wood for all seasons

02.12.2020. During the long, dark, off-season winter months, the lighting of this iconic open-air swimming amenity, designed by White Arkitekter, turns African wood into a dramatic experience. Offered by INTERHOLCO with FSC^® 100% certification, Azobé (Lophira alata) and Tali (Erythrophleum spp.) are as durable as they are water resistant, the ideal choice for projects in direct contact with sea water.

Diverse, interdependent, together: an ALLIANCE to safeguard the future of African natural forests

15.10.2020. To relate to a forest, is to relate to a country and its inhabitants. To the people, with their culture. Their dreams and aspirations, as much as their shortcomings and concerns. Relationships never stop being a work in progress. Dealing with a forest is no exception. We can become more intelligent and wiser, and over time, more fertile, if we work with others to reinvent the way of our future.

Why the United Nations chose Tali (Erythrophleum spp.) for the waterfront of their Copenhagen office

19.08.2020. This summer, if you happen to be around Copenhagen (Denmark), make plans to visit the United Nations City. Here, Tali, an African hardwood known for its durability, which INTERHOLCO offers with FSC^® certification, was chosen for the heavy decking that surrounds the building. With thousands crossing the beautiful waterfront daily, Tali literally paves the way to justice and respect, human rights, environmentally friendly considerations and, peace.

INTERHOLCO’s laminated scantlings, high-performing products to make you project proud

16.06.2020. Exterior or interior projects require a strong, stable, long-lasting material. You like wood, but do not want to harm the forest? We love forests, too!And so do our wood products. INTERHOLCO brings you finger-jointed laminated scantlings that won’t cost the Earth. Our new brochure shows how.

Rescuing dwarf crocodiles from the clutches of poachers

25.05.2020. Behind his blue mask, the eco-guard is smiling: lying in the back of his pick-up under the scorching sun, 40 dwarf crocodiles are about to be set free. Before being released back in the river Sangha, they need rehydrating with a water sprinkle. With their muzzle tied up, they are lucky to be still alive. ‘That could show that the young crocodiles, a partially protected species in Congo, were not just destined for slaughter on the local market of Ouesso but rather, smuggling,’ argues José Blanchard Bokandza.

Cordon sanitaire, a strategic measure to keep one’s distance from the virus

13.05.2020. IFO has extended the strategic measures developed with local authorities to stem the spread of COVID-19 to service providers. A cordon sanitaire is now in place at the gates of the industrial site. Whether arriving from Douala (Cameroon), Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire (Congo), cities where several people have already been infected, carriers are requested to park in a suitable area, some 500 m away from the entrance to the sawmills. The aim is to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible, protect workers and their communities and focus on prevention, with better management of potential cases.

Woodworking also means, giving unknown people a chance

08.05.2020. In order to ease the burden on the state health system, our Congo-based company IFO has mobilised staff working at the IFO medical centre (CMS). In the village of Ngombé, where 10,000 inhabitants live, all healthcare staff is thus in the front line, in the fight against COVID-19. The state's integrated health centre (CSI) has been converted into an ad hoc care unit, to keep those likely to have contracted the virus separate from all other patients, who will continue to be admitted to IFO's medical centre.

Woodworking, an essential activity in times of COVID-19

06.05.2020.Right as the infinitely 'small' shakes the whole world, the Republic of Congo has considered harvesting and transformation of sustainable hardwood ‘Made in Africa’ an essential activity of its economy. Work and life at IFO are fully continuing, even though Congolese authorities have extended the state of health emergency. The company, determined to win the fight against COVID-19, is concerned for the health of workers.

The mask which protects

01.05.2020. In the North of Congo, the Kwele forest people use heart-shaped masks for their rites. Through these masks, the Kwele worship earth spirits, chase the soul-eating spirits away, celebrate the passage of seasons and heal the sick. The masks have stylized human faces surmounted by large openwork arching horns. These masks - carved from a lightweight wood - are emblems of high-ranking men and hunters, whose rites mobilise the magic forces of the community.

When washing hands saves lives

A deadly virus. 210 countries affected.* A simple gesture, to be repeated several times a day.

29.04.2020. In the village of Ngombé, in northern Congo, one of the most landlocked regions of the country, our subsidiary IFO (Industrie Forestière de Ouesso) gives its 900 workers 3 kg of soap per day. It's 5:45 in the morning, when they arrive to clock in. But before anyone gets to work, each and everyone has to wash their hands.

Earth Day: Leave no one behind in the face of COVID-19

22.04.2020. This year, tv channel ARTE celebrates International Earth Day with a new broadcast of 'Congo, Protecting the Gorilla Forests'. Filmed in the North of Congo Brazzaville, partly in the forest which INTERHOLCO manages sustainably, the documentary won Germany's prestigious nature film prize for 2019, the coveted Deutscher NaturfilmPreis.

Join us in the fight against COVID-19!

27.03.2020. With sustainability and growth among its core values, INTERHOLCO is striving to ensure well-being and safety to its employees, in Europe and Africa alike. COVID-19 demands a real ALLIANCE amongst all members of society. We are launching a campaign in five languages: English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese, available on this link: http://bit.ly/IHC-Join-us-against-COVID-19

Sustainable Hardwood to celebrate forests and protect biodiversity

20.03.2020.The United Nations proclaimed 21 March International Day of Forests and this year shines a light on Forests and Biodiversity. INTERHOLCO offers Sustainable Hardwood 'Made in Africa' as a solution to not only promote better living conditions (construction with wood), but also to reduce climate change, increase social justice and keep forests protected from permanent change to agriculture.

The wood that keeps forest children safe

11.02.2020. Forests worldwide are known to be rich in stories, legends and myths; places hosting unusual turns and transformations. As the most densely wooded part of Africa, the Congo Basin forest is definitely no exception. Many of its plants and trees hold cultural and spiritual values.

INTERHOLCO’s production site speaks Chinese in the latest translation of Meindert Brouwer’s ‘Central African Forests Forever’

#Sustainable #Hardwood #MadeinAfrica protects the forest

13.05.2019. Forests worldwide are a public good and forestry students often wonder how far private timber companies are prepared to go, to preserve and maintain natural forests. Mr. Ulrich Grauert, INTERHOLCO’s CEO, showed students worldwide how INTERHOLCO walks the talk, during a webinar hosted by the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) on 16 April 2019.

Introducing our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

26.03.2019. Companies do play a critical role in helping achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and INTERHOLCO is no exception. In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals. For the first time, governments agreed that the challenges international society faces, including those related to poverty, hunger, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace and justice were interconnected and that each sector had a contribution to make.

Sustainable Hardwood – Made in Africa: the year in advance

17.01.2019. A change of heart is what tropical forests need. That is, if their unique biodiversity is to continue thriving; if precious services such as water cycle, rain regime and climate regulation are to be ensured for the planet and, if millions are to enjoy a peaceful life right where they live, i.e. in the natural forests of the Congo Basin - one of the world’s most precious wonders.

SNCF, champion of Sustainable Hardwood, Made in Africa

12.11.2018. INTERHOLCO Sustainable Hardwood – Made in Africa, and the Paris-based SNCF lead the way in making choices that won't cost the Earth.