Sivalbp, an eco-responsible manufacturer of wood solutions

When it comes to eco-responsibility, Sivalbp a company based in Haute-Savoie, is a star performer. Committed to sustainable development, it offers a range of high-quality, environmentally-friendly wood cladding, decking and panelling for interiors and exteriors.  Sivalbp's commitment to the production of eco-responsible wood planks is demonstrated by its eco-designed site for 100% natural production autonomy, its certifications in favour of responsible forest management and its ecological transformation processes without chemical additives.

Sivalbp stands out for its philosophy of environmental responsibility, its care in offering quality wood solutions without solvents or chemicals, thus avoiding any pollution or impact on the environment. All the products manufactured and offered by SIVALBP are non-toxic, whether it's the saturators or the wood transformation process.

The company's philosophy is based on an eco-responsible approach to the production and processing of its boards, which are used to make cladding and panelling.

As part of the Kyoto Protocol, the French government and wood industry professionals have committed to renewing the vitality of forests in order to reduce our environmental footprint and combat global warming.  The use of treated wood, which is controlled and regulated, is respectful of people and the environment. To ensure that the environmental footprint of buildings is kept to a minimum, a number of criteria need to be taken into account: the forestry certification of the timber, the life cycle analysis of the products and processes used, the quantity of waste produced, and the suitability of the products for reuse or recycling at the end of their life. The processes used to transform the wood must also be environmentally friendly, from drying to the finishing line, including steaming and finger-jointing.

Some species are endangered: deforestation, the plundering of the planet's resources - all good reasons to choose wood from certified forests that are managed in an ecologically responsible way. Africa, South America, Asia and the Amazon are particularly prized for their exotic wood species. Mahogany, teak, kapur, ipe and rosewood are just some of the species favoured for wooden constructions.

The environment is a growing concern for professionals. Sivalbp is no exception. This eco-responsibility approach is reflected in the use of so-called "sustainable" species from certified, responsibly managed forests. Wood from distant forests, such as exotic wood, is becoming less and less popular. These increasingly rare species take decades to renew themselves.  As a result, sustainable woods are emerging as alternatives to exotic or tropical woods.

At a time when tropical forests are being massacred, environmental NGOs are sounding the alarm and calling for a boycott of exotic woods from overexploited, illegally logged forests.

For cladding and panelling, sustainable woods combine aesthetics and ecology. While exotic woods such as ipe and teak are appreciated for their warm colour and durability, they often come from illegal logging in remote forests. Consumers' growing awareness of the need to protect the environment is prompting wood processors to develop new, more environmentally-friendly production and marketing channels.

Sivalbp rigorously selects wood species from sustainable, PEFC-certified forests (PEFC/10-31-1593).

Originating in Canada, Scandinavia, the Alps or France, these woods last up to 50 years and are characterised by their rot-proof properties. They are naturally weather-resistant and are grown in ecologically responsible forests to protect the environment.

This sustainable management takes place from both an ecological and a social point of view (taking into account the impact on local populations).

These woods (Pine, Douglas Fir, Mountain Larch, Nordic Pine) are class 3, natural or EcoThermo, and rot-proof. They resist deterioration and attack by fungi and mould.

SIVALBP takes care to preserve the forests in the selection of its timber, offering quality wood planks for your decking, exterior facades and interior panelling.   Respectful of the environment, the well-being and comfort of life, and concerned with the sustainable aesthetics of decking, the company offers a varied selection of woods to enhance your exterior. The various ranges allow you to play with colours, shapes and luminosity. By choosing sustainable woods, you're doing your bit for the planet.

True to its values, the company goes even further in its eco-responsible approach with its 100% eco-responsible production site. All the site's energy needs come from renewable sources, using a variety of techniques : electricity from 100% renewable sources, rainwater recovery, a wood-fired boiler fuelled by recycled by-products, and natural air conditioning by optimising the orientation of the buildings. Sivalbp has designed its site to be energy self-sufficient. The site is in line with the processes used during the various stages of manufacture to produce and deliver eco-responsible timber with a clean ecological balance.

The company's expertise is also evident in its manufacturing processes: it does not use autoclaves, but instead thermally transforms the wood using its own thermostabilisation, drying and steaming (THT) equipment.

Before any processing, the wood must be dried to remove some of its moisture. Steaming, which involves keeping the wood in a moisture-saturated environment for three weeks, is designed to improve the intrinsic properties of each species. After drying, the wood passes through an automated sorting line to identify any singularities (cracks, knots, etc.), which are then purged by finger-jointing as required.  Profiling gives the board its final shape, according to its intended use. Brushing and sanding prepare the surface of the board before moving on to the finishing line for finished interior or exterior cladding.

Thermostabilisation enables the company to offer EcoThermo Lumber that is more stable, with less warping, resin and shrinkage, and more resistant to humidity for terraces and interior panelling. Thermostabilisation therefore offers an alternative to autoclaved wood.

This process involves gradually heating the wood, alternating between a temperature rise and a rewetting phase. This environmentally-friendly process preserves the wood and uses no chemical additives or petroleum products.  This process gives the wood exceptional stability and durability, as well as a brown colour throughout.

Sivalbp has developed an EcoThermo range for effective, long-lasting use in cladding and decking. EcoThermo offers excellent long-term performance with a factory-applied, solvent-free, water-based saturator with non-toxic mineral pigmentation. Thanks to this non-film-forming saturator, which provides long-lasting protection against UV rays and bad weather, the façade will retain a uniform appearance for years to come.

Certain woods such as Nordic Pine, Larch and Nordic Spruce EcoThermo are particularly suitable for exterior use. EcoThermo modifies the composition of the wood's cells, improving its resistance to biological damage and insects. Given their water-repellent and UV-resistant qualities, these species are particularly resistant to climatic conditions. Rain, wind, snow - the façades are characterised by their endurance. What's more, because the process preserves the wood, they blend in perfectly with the environment and require little or no maintenance. They age perfectly over time, greying naturally if they have not been finished. If a finish has been applied to the façade, simple cleaning is all that's needed to keep it looking its best. Owners don't always have the time or inclination to treat their façades. The EcoThermo wood façade with finish is therefore an effective solution for combining practicality and aesthetics.

Sivalbp combines ecology, durability and aesthetics through the production of sustainable wood planks. From wood selection to finishing, the company makes it a point of honour to provide eco-responsible wood solutions.  Eco-responsible wood planks offer both aesthetic and ecological benefits: recyclable and carbon-neutral, they help preserve the planet's resources.

Sivalbp wood planks contain no chemicals that could pollute the environment. The products that the company applies in the factory are water-based and solvent-free, to enhance the authenticity and natural properties of the wood. The preservatives used are CTB B+ certified. This certification, issued by the FCBA organisation, is a guarantee of sustainable wood; it attests to the performance of finished wood in terms of durability. It also includes requirements in terms of compliance with health and environmental criteria.

Finishes not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the material, but also protect the wood from everyday wear and tear. They add a decorative touch to facades. The finishing treatment has a dual function: to decorate the cladding and to provide lasting protection against the elements. Most finishes are water-based. Wood finishes come in many forms: varnishes, woodstains, paints and saturators. Varnishes enhance the wood but are vulnerable to sunlight. Dark shades of woodstain are prone to cracking. Paints require regular maintenance.

Sivalbp has therefore chosen to work with saturators that enhance the wood while protecting it. Sivalbp is a major ecological ally when it comes to producing environmentally-friendly cladding, panelling and decking.

Sivalbp's aim is to breathe new life into a façade by combining aesthetics and eco-responsibility to create authentic, healthy, durable, high-performance cladding. With its diverse range of wood solutions, it is possible to create a mosaic of atmospheres that give shape to an ecological habitat.

The various ranges offered by the company are an ode to creativity and architectural daring, with cladding that creates a personalised atmosphere and blends into the environment according to the topographical and climatic constraints of each region. Sivalbp offers a range of cladding products to create different atmospheres. The Elegance range adds a luminous touch to facades with wood tones and saturated finishes. Western red cedar, Siberian larch and Douglas fir lend themselves perfectly to contemporary architecture.  For timeless wood, the New Age range anticipates the effects of greying, which is the natural tendency of cladding to develop over time, by applying grey saturators that ensure the timelessness of facades.

Vintage cladding brings a retro, old-world feel to facades, in the spirit of buildings of yesteryear, with dark saturators. Fans of authenticity and easy maintenance can opt for the Authentic range, which retains the aesthetics of natural, untreated wood. To give façades a boost, the Colors range dares to use colour, with 8 shades to choose from. The Mountain range is designed to fit in with harsh mountain climates.

The secrets of a saturator

Saturators provide a long-lasting finish. Saturators are natural oil-based products that anticipate changes in wood colour.  Unlike a varnish, it penetrates the wood and impregnates it to the core, whereas other products create an impermeable coating on the surface of the wood.

It's the secret of protected cladding that respects the natural character of wood. The non-film-forming finish deeply nourishes the wood fibres. This solvent-free saturator finish uses an acrylic resin to provide optimum, long-lasting protection against UV and weathering. Saturators are available in a wide range of colours, depending on the species and style of the façade. Saturators effectively delay the effects of time, so you can enjoy a façade that looks as good as new for a long time to come.  This finish does not peel. It's practical, requiring no stripping or sanding for homeowners who want to renew the finish.

For those who want to anticipate the effects of time, timeless grey solvent-free saturator finishes preserve the natural look of wood and prevent greying by giving façades a uniform, trendy grey.

The different type of saturators

Dark saturators such as Sivalbp Vintage are ideal for those with a taste for "old wood" with warm, chocolate and coffee notes. Larch also has its own special finish to protect it and delay the effects of weathering.  It doesn't flake, strip or sand. Regular maintenance (4 to 5 years) with the application of Sivalbp Elegance saturator ensures that the façade retains its original appearance. These saturators are solvent-free and film-forming, and use an acrylic resin that penetrates deep into the wood fibres to provide optimum, long-lasting protection against UV rays and bad weather.

The pre-weathered saturators in the Sivalbp New Age range help to anticipate the effects of ageing, for a façade that greys evenly.

These different saturator solutions, combined with the choice of sustainable species, meet the expectations of many project owners and contractors. These choices help to make Sivalbp a reliable supplier of eco-responsible solutions that will last over time.