20. March 2026
Fundermax GmbH
Sustainability

Living sustainably – World Forestry Day & World Recycling Day at Fundermax

Sustainability is far more than just a trend – it is a long-term commitment that shapes the way we think, act and produce. As a company that has been developing high-quality materials from natural raw materials for over 130 years, Fundermax sees it as its core mission to conserve natural resources, use them responsibly and consistently close the circular loop. The international awareness days World Recycling Day (18 March) and World Forestry Day (21 March) are an ideal opportunity to consciously highlight and showcase our contribution to a sustainable future.

Sustainable forestry as the foundation

For us, wood is more than just a resource. It is the foundation of our products and our innovative strength. That is why we source 100% of our wood and paper from certified sustainably managed forests. This principle is deeply rooted in our environmental and energy policy and is part of our Fundermax Green Deal. Through the conscious use of natural resources, we not only support the preservation of forests but actively promote their sustainable management. This is very much the focus of World Forestry Day – the international day dedicated to forests, which reminds us of the importance of these unique ecosystems.

Circular economy in practice

For Fundermax, conserving resources means one thing above all else: thinking in terms of cycles. That is why we consistently focus on the material recycling and energy recovery of materials. For our raw chipboard, we use a sustainable blend of sawdust and recycled wood. The Compact board consists of around 65% paper, of which a large proportion is already sourced from recycled core paper – including from our subsidiary Ranheim Paper & Board.

The Fundermax biofibre board also follows this circular approach, as it consists of 99% fibre wood from forest thinning, which is not used in the sawmill industry. We use production residues such as sanding dust or wood fibres as substitute fuel for energy generation.

Green energy and effective climate protection

A key component of our sustainability strategy is the consistent use of renewable energy. At our combined heat and power plants in St. Veit/Glan and Neudörfl, we generate certified green energy directly for our production. In addition, a 7,000 m² photovoltaic system in Wiener Neudorf supports our supply of clean solar power.

Another contribution to the regional energy transition: we feed surplus heat from our production into local grids, thereby supplying around 10,000 households in surrounding communities.

These measures are having an impact: 80% of our energy requirements are already met by renewable and certified climate-neutral energy sources. But we are going one step further: we have set ourselves the goal of reducing 50% of our remaining fossil CO2 emissions.

Sustainability as a long-term goal and a daily commitment

Our environmental and energy policy is based on an integrated management system compliant with ISO 14001, 50001 and 45001, which promotes continuous improvement. For over 20 years, we have been making targeted investments in eco-friendly production processes, modern technologies and sustainable material innovations.

Whether it be the circular economy, energy efficiency or the resource-efficient use of recources – all our measures pursue a common goal: to minimise the impact on people and the environment whilst creating long-term added value for future generations.

Conclusion: Sustainability is what drives us – every single day of the year

World Forestry Day and World Recycling Day remind us of the importance of responsible resource use and functioning circular systems. At Fundermax, this responsibility is part of our daily practice: