Evergreen's engineered wood helps conserve world's forests

Resorting to conventional logging to meet the world's ever-increasing demand for wood has put a strain on forest resources. Using advanced, environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, Evergreen provides an ideal alternative to solid wood and plywood with its medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and other quality engineered wood-based products. From its own sources of recycled and renewable raw materials, Evergreen also offers wooden furniture specifically designed to customers' preferences.

Starting as a veneering company in 1972 and becoming a pioneer in the MDF industry, Evergreen is now Asean's leading producer of engineered wood products for use in furniture and construction, supplying to more than 40 countries.

"MDF is more sustainable and renewable; ours comes from rubber plantations instead of tropical forests," says Kuo Jen Chiu, group vice-president and group chief operating officer. "It has become a trend, and our company has grown along with this trend."

Evergreen is set to capitalise on the rising global demand for MDF, which is expected to reach 99.1 million cubic metres by 2017. There has already been a dramatic increase in MDF use across Asia, with China being the largest consumer, followed by Japan and Indonesia.

While MDF comprises more than 70 per cent of Evergreen's business, the company is working towards chiselling growth in the downstream segment. To do this, the leading panel producer is expanding sales in made-to-order furniture through hypermarkets, furniture traders and mail orders.

"You can buy furniture from any furniture maker, but what we offer is stability of supply since we control the raw markets and distribution channels," says Martin Leong, group finance manager. "When we say we will deliver, we will definitely deliver."