NL: Seerden Houtgroep: environmentally friendly boxes

Dutch company, Seerden Houtgroep is specialised in industrial packaging, but they also supply their storage boxes to the agricultural sector. Hans Nelen says: "The distinctive thing about our wooden boxes is that we fabricate them in an environmentally friendly, organism free way. Every company makes boxes organism free in their own way and the most usual way is to dip the boxes in a solution with an impregnator checmical, which is poisonous. And food and chemical substances are not a good combination", emphasizes Nelen.

"We, as Seerden Houtgroep, have a special method, during which the boxes are cleared of organisms with a heat treatment (56 degrees Celsius half an hour from the core). This way we supply ISPM 12 certified wood." Hans Nelen discovered that this is still very unknown in the agricultural sector. "Whilst huge numbers of boxes are used for storing potatoes, carrots and onions. It surprises us that they almost always use boxes that have been chemically treated. You would think they wouldn't want chemicals near food products."

"We are producers of organism free eco-storage systems that are no burden on food products and the environment", explains Hans. "Besides this we don't use 'common' wood. The wood that Seerden uses isn't from Central Europe, but is specially imported from Scandinavia. "The main difference is that Scandinavian trees take longer to grow into full trees. This makes the wood stronger. We also keep a close eye on the number of knots the wood contains. There can't be too many if you want qualitatively good boxes. Companies can use our boxes for 10 to 15 years. "A lot of agrarian companies use a lot of these boxes, so it's a big investment. It's better to invest in boxes that last longer and which are better for the environment and health? An added advantage is that it's a big cost saver in the long term."

Seerden sees good chances to build up its new branch of eco storage systems to a flourishing activity. "The agrarian sector is sensitive to quality: it's needed and we will supply it. One of our big customers recently said: "If I can stop dipping them in impregnator tomorrow, I will."

For more information:
Seerden Houtgroup B.V.
Collseweg 27, 5674 TR Nuenen
Tel.: +31 (0)40 284 09 50
Fax: +31 (0)40 283 21 82
[email protected]
www.seerden.nl