About Wood
Proper Wood Products develops products from invasive alien plants
in the Overberg region in the Western Cape, South Africa.
This landscape is part of the Cape Floristic Region
(a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world.
It is a highly threatened ecosystem with 70% of the plants, mostly associated with the Fynbos Biome, found nowhere else on the planet.
Invasive alien plants refer to plants brought to South Africa from other countries, and they are invasive because they spread rapidly and displace the indigenous trees and plants. This threatens biological diversity. Without natural enemies, they reproduce and spread very quickly, using significantly more water than indigenous plants.
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Invasive alien plants increase the amount of biomass in the surrounding environment by up to 300%, which means that they pose a significant fire risk.
TYPES OF WOOD
Eucalyptus
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High Energy Value of 5.2Mwh/T
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Dried naturally to below 20% moisture
BBQ
Fireplace
Pizza Ovens
Sickle Bush
Sekelbos
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Hardwood
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Very large flames
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Long-lasting high heat coals
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Enhances the flavour of meat creating a musky flavour
BBQ
Fireplace
Firewood
Camel Thorn
Kameeldoring
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Hardwood
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Long burning wood creating minimum smoke
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Musky fragrance
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Long lasting coals
BBQ
Firewood
Our Plastic Bags
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The plastic bags that we use to package our wood are manufactured from 70% recycled LLDPE plastic which can be recycled completely after use.
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Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is extremely strong and durable which means it can withstand greater impact and possible puncture damage. So you get your wood in a proper bag!
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Since LLDPE is produced at lower temperatures and pressures it is less energy intensive and therefore better for the environment.
WHY BUY WOOD THAT IS IMPORTED FROM SOUTH AFRICA?
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Our firewood and other products represent a solution to two very big problems in South Africa: unemployment and environmental threats. With unemployment as high as 49% in the Overberg region, buying our firewood from invasive alien plants ensures long-term work for hundreds of people.
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The firewood that you buy from us is not just “wood”, it is wood from invasive alien plants. By buying our wood you help us to solve an enormous environmental problem that is a real threat to biodiversity. Around 60% of the Agulhas Plain, just one of the landscapes in which we work, is infested by invasive alien plants.
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You may remember the news images of the devastating drought in 2018 in the Western Cape when “Day Zero”
was fast approaching for Cape Town, with the city’s water resources falling to below 15%. Invasive alien plants are one
of the primary reasons for Cape Town struggling with water security. Many of the rivers in the areas where we work feed into the water supply to Cape Town.
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Similarly the images of destruction caused by run-away wildfires: Invasive alien plants such as Acacia, Eucalyptus and Pine species are fuel for fire; it’s like pouring petrol on flames. Less of these plants mean a smaller fire risk with fewer people losing their livelihoods or lives in run-away fires.
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Also consider the overall impact of deforestation of indigenous forests in Eastern Europe for firewood. That is simply unconscionable. Our firewood is from invasive alien wood, not at all native to South Africa.
Our firewood helps to address a huge environmental threat to indigenous plants.
