Gothenburg, Sweden 18 June, 2021: The wood treatment Hardwax Oil from Interbuild
Global Distribution Ltd., contains no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and causes very
little emissions of GreenHouse Gases.
Early in 2021, globally acknowledged climate effect auditor South Pole performed a Life
Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Interbuild’s Hardwax Oil, determining how much emissions the oil
is causing during its life time from the sourcing of components all through to usage and
disposal at final customer.
Interbuild has compensated for the emissions actually caused and has committed to a plan
for reducing of the already low emissions caused even further.
As a result of this, South Pole has formally approved that Interbuild can claim (and use
their label confirming) that the Interbuild Hardwax Oil is Climate Neutral (Carbon Neutral).
BACKGROUND
Interbuild is a global leader in solid wood countertops/worktops and furniture, primarily in high
quality acacia wood.
All Interbuild solid wood products are treated with Interbuild’s especially developed Hardwax Oil,
that contains no thinner or other solvents (which is customary in wood treatment oils) and that is
even approved (by US FDA – Food and Drug Administration) for being in contact with food. It can
therefore be used for all kinds of wood, indoor and outdoor, from deck tiles, flooring and patio
furniture to worktops/countertops and for cutting boards in the kitchen.
The oil became so popular that it in 2018 was launched as a product to the end consumer, mostly in
cans of 250 ml (8.45 fl oz US).
INTERBUILD’S HARDWAX OIL
Including no VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), the oil carries several major advantages:
1. The user will have no headache, even after a long time working with the oil.
2. Since a volatile component of other wood treatment oils evaporates when the oil is applied
to the wood surface, Interbuild’s Hardwax Oil has a substantially better coverage than oils
containing VOC. The oil contained in the 250 ml can typically covers 8 – 10 m 2 , making it
pricewise a very competitive product for wood treatment.
3. Since the oil contains no VOC solvents, which are very powerful GreenHouse gases, the
climate impact on global warming from the Interbuild Hardwax Oil is very low.
CLIMATE NEUTRALITY
Early in 2020, Interbuild engaged South Pole, being a globally leading Third Party climate related
auditor, to review the oil’s total effects on emissions of GreenHouse Gases. South Pole performed a
LCA – Life Cycle Analysis “from cradle to grave”, including all aspects from components, via
production and transports to usage by end consumer.
South Pole determined the amount of CO 2e (CO 2 ‐equivalents) that are emitted due to the oil
(sourcing, production, transports and usage). Interbuild then paid for carbon offsets in order to
compensate for the low emissions actually caused by the oil – as determined by South Pole ‐ and set
a plan to reduce the already low emissions.
By the reduction plan and the offsets, Interbuild qualified the oil to be formally certified (in
accordance with PAS 2060) by acknowledged auditor South Pole.
CLIMATE NEUTRAL vs CARBON NEUTRAL
The difference between Climate Neutral and being Carbon Neutral is that Carbon Neutral is
considering only emissions of CO 2 , whereas Climate Neutral ALSO considers emissions of other, much
more powerful GreenHouse Gases, such as methane and laughing gas. Climate Neutral is therefore
more complete and is what PAS 2060 refers to.
CARBON OFFSETS IN GOLD STANDARD PROJECT
The project, officially registered as being Gold Standard, in which Interbuild bought Carbon Offsets
(also called Carbon Credits) is called Vietstar Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Plant. It is designed to
reduce methane emissions from waste handling in Vietnam, also improving social conditions by
providing work opportunities, recycling of certain waste and composting of organic waste.
REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS FOR IMPROVED SUSTAINABILITY
The management of Interbuild is very content taking this important step of sustainability, hoping that
the market will appreciate having the choice to be able to use a wood treatment oil that is formally
certified to have a net zero of GreenHouse Gas emissions caused – low emissions to start with, a plan
to further reduce emissions caused and compensating of emissions caused by investing in a socially
responsible Gold Standard project.
The products can be seen on www.interbuild.shop
The Certificate and the Interbuild symbols and logo can be seen here:
www.interbuild.eu/presshardwaxoil
For more info, please contact local Interbuild Company Representatives (emails below) or:
Richard Mattus
Global Sales Director
Interbuild Global Distribution Ltd
Richard.mattus@interbuild.eu
