SDG 5

Who cares wins: Interholco in ESG transparency rating for timber and pulp companies

Who cares wins: Interholco leads ESG transparency rating for timber and pulp companies

28.08.2024. The future we want has wood at its core and forests stand at the centre. Our no. 1 ranking in the only ESG transparency assessment for tropical timber and pulp companies is tell-tale: https://www.spott.org/timber-pulp/ Because we care, ‘Sustainable’ rhymes with ‘Accountable’. Follow us through!

Interholco drives ESG transparency

16.08.2023. Climate and biodiversity are closely intertwined. Climate change is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, while ecosystem destruction contrasts nature’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, precipitating climate change. Just as supply chains must become deforestation-free by 2025 if the Paris Agreement climate goals are to be met, ZSL’s SPOTT (Sustainability Policy Transparency Toolkit) found that there is much the private sector can do.

Co-creating change for 1,300 children in Congo

29.06.2023. In Congo Brazzaville, public schools offer primary tuition for free. Finding quality tuition aid materials, however, is not as straightforward. Especially in the wake of the pandemic.Earlier this year,leadingwood importerGLOBAL TIMBER (Denmark) maderoom to readin the IFO library, run byINTERHOLCO’ssubsidiaryIndustrieForestière deOuesso (IFO) in thevillage ofNgombé.

SPOTT ESG transparency assessment and INTERHOLCO

08.08.2022. This year, INTERHOLCO ranks first in SPOTT’s ESG transparency assessment of 100 timber companies in the tropics. Let’s take a closer look. When it comes to tropical forests, the shortest distance from A to B is, ESG.

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.’

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.

Women’s role in Congo, today: a testimonial

10.03.2022. What is the role of women in society? The answers are many and varied. According to Diane TCHICAYA, assistant to the Director General at our production site in the Republic of Congo, ‘If a woman really wants to be of service, she must be able to work. Even if it's not in an office, a woman has to – that’s how she can help.’

Central African Forests Forever, the book that grows like a tree, downloadable for free in English, French and Chinese

29.11.2021. Dutch writer Meindert Brouwer has reviewed and expanded his 'Central African Forests Forever', an all-round must-read on Congo Basin natural tropical forests. The book comprises 17 new chapters about opportunities and solutions for their conservation and sustainable use.

INTERHOLCO first in SPOTT-on assessment of forest solutions for people and planet

24.06.2021. Deforestation and forest degradation are non-negotiables: millions of us depend on how far we are ready to go, to protect our forests i.e. our climate, our health, our food, our water, not to mention some of the world’s most extraordinary plants and animals.

Talking wood: "Life's worth? In wood it can be found"

06.05.2021. What makes a man's worth? Mr. Bienvenu Gbalondo, working at IFO's heavy timber mill, discloses his credo as employee and father. IFO is the subsidiary company of INTERHOLCO in the North of the Republic of Congo, where wood is responsibly harvested and transformed into 'Sustainable Hardwood - Made in Africa' by more than 1.400 workers.

Talking wood: "Logistics is first and foremost my passion"

01.04.2021. INTERHOLCO takes the ecological transition on board via a river-railway alliance in the Republic of Congo.

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.

The future has a beautiful energy, says Congolese entrepreneur Vouala Obambi

08.03.2021. Congolese entrepreneur Vouala Obambi, Managing Director of ENERGAZ (a SAPRO group company) has a vision for the future: leading change. As the only woman manager of an electricity production company in the Republic of Congo and the youngest in Africa, Ms. Obambi is participating in a call for tenders for the operation of the Liouesso hydroelectric power plant.

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.

INTERHOLCO has pride of place in SPOTT’s State of Transparency 2020, leading 100 timber and pulp and paper companies worldwide

27.07.2020. Because our products give access to life-changing benefits to a community of 10’000 people in one of Congo’s most landlocked regions. Because our resources are vitally important living wonders. Because our forest protection means that anything, from a mushroom to an elephant, should thrive in their natural habitat. We know, and care about, forests. And it shows.

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.

Annie Ayoko (left) cheers up a baby to whom she has just subministrated a vaccine. © T. Baldassarri Höger von Högersthal / Interholco. All rights reserved.

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.

Engaged for climate, people and wildlife: INTERHOLCO ranks 1st in SPOTT’s 2019 assessment

31.07.2019.For the third year in a row, INTERHOLCO leads SPOTT’s assessment of timber companies with consistent engagement for the climate, people and wildlife.

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.

On International Forest Day, INTERHOLCO welcomes 2019, International Year of Indigenous Languages

19.03.2019. We are the language we speak. It is through language that we communicate with the world, define who we are, express our history and values; learn, defend our rights and participate in all aspects of society.

IFO's women employees, standing on their own two feet

08.03.2019. Decision-makers, professionally engaged, devoted to their family: women working for IFO celebrate International Women’s Day with a half-day of paid leave, in recognition of their value as committed employees and mothers.

From know-how to show-how: INTERHOLCO outperforms in SPOTT timber companies assessment 2018

From know-how to show-how: Interholco leads SPOTT’s assessment of timber companies with higher transparency

31.07.2018. Interholco outperformed in SPOTT’s worldwide transparency assessment of timber companies for the second year in a row, with a score of 93.4%.

Interholco CEO Ulrich Grauert at the CPF Conference in FAO Rome

Interholco urges for Action Plan to support sustainable management in tropical natural forests

20.02.2018. Interholco CEO Ulrich Grauert addressed over 300 participants in the conference ‘Working across Sectors to Halt Deforestation and Increase Forest Area - from Aspiration to Action’.

Interholco ranks 1st in ESG assessment of timber companies

Interholco ranks 1st in ESG assessment of timber, pulp and paper companies

10.11.2017. 'We are delighted to have done so well in SPOTT’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) assessment of timber, pulp and paper companies which values the engagement and efforts of our teams ,’ said Interholco CEO Ulrich Grauert.

Interholco Sustainability Report 'Enabling Landscapes'

Interholco launches its first Sustainability Report

09.10.2017.Sustainable hardwood specialist Interholco presents its first Sustainability Report: the data collected and analyzed cover the years 2014 to 2016.

Future of Central African Forests Tropenbos Conference The Hague

A Way Forward For The Future of Central African Forests

31.05.2017.Over 140 participants attended a conference on The future of Central African Forest and its people in The Hague, to share lessons learned and look for a way forward together with representatives of the Dutch government, social and environmental NGOs, academia and the private sector.

ARTE tv: Interholco on International Forest Day

10.03.2017. Ever longed to take a trip to the Congo Basin and its natural wonders? Now you can: turn on your television and see what makes African wood products different!

Around 120 women took part in the International Day celebration in Ngombe / © T. Baldassarri / INTERHOLCO

Empowering women against AIDS

21.03.2016. On International Women's Day, around 120 women of all ages from Congo, Cameroon, Rwanda, Tchad, from local and indigenous communities, gathered in Ngombé.