Samsonite APAC & Middle East’s Post

In this issue of Panels & Furniture Asia, we had the #opportunity to speak to several players from the #woodworking sector during the recent Hanoi Wood Expo exhibition. Their responses about the #market movements of late were quite varied. For the #furniture market, things are picking up. Orders are coming back again, and one look at the recent #export #performance by #malaysia and #Vietnam is proof. Furniture exports are on the rise again, better compared to the same period last year. The caveat, however, is that this is not felt evenly across the region. Rumour has it that there are still factory closures in China. For the wood #materials market, things are not doing so well — at least, not for #asia. Exports of US #hardwoods to South East Asia recorded a tick in the first few months, but the South East Asia market itself is sluggish. From a recent report by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), every Global Timber Index (GTI) registered country besides #China — that means Malaysia, Indonesia and #thailand, for countries in South East Asia — observed a fall in performance across various criteria. Flip to page 16 for reasons in the dip in performances. Likewise, the market for the #wood panel market, overall, is either stagnating or performing badly. Challenges of raw material and manpower price hikes are carried over from last year, and they show no signs of abating. While we can wait for the market to pick up again — heavily dependent on the #US and #EU — what can the industry do to diversify our #Revenue streams? Tapping into alternative raw materials is one way. In this issue, our interview with TOMRA Recycling not only sheds light on how the company’s #wood #recycling division has come so far since they formally started around three years ago, but also how wood recycling in ever so important in this era where #raw #materials are becoming pricier and scarcer. Flip to page 32 for insights into this by Jose Matas, global wood director segment at Tomra. We have other interesting interviews in store for you as well: Biesse’s newest #managing #director for South East Asia, Casey Ching, steps into the #woodworking world for the first time and introduces himself (p.22); we also interviewed PLANTICS B.V., a company specialising in bio- or #NonFormaldehyde reins for #wood #panel #production (p.35). The wood and woodworking industry continues to move forward regardless of how the #market performs, and we hope to continue bringing you quality reporting along the way. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gvqWCm6T

Hang Lung is taking steps to improve circularity in real estate, as we partner with Knauf, Saint-Gobain, and TRASHAUS on the design and implementation of the recycling and reuse of #GypsumBoard. Our sustainability partner LVMH Group will also recycle the gypsum board in its upcoming store fit-outs in our properties.  Significant waste is generated in the built environment during demolition, construction, and renovation. We will pilot gypsum board recycling in two of our properties as the first step of the recycling initiative:  1) A store fit-out renovation process in Grand Gateway 66, Shanghai  2) Recycling gypsum scrap from the landlord area of our new construction project in Westlake 66, Hangzhou Gypsum board (also known as plasterboard or drywall) is a common construction material used in walls, ceilings and partitions, and can comprise 1/3 of a fit-out project’s new materials by weight. It also makes up an estimated 5% of all construction waste and 10% of all demolition waste by weight.  In the next two years, we plan to expand the recycling initiative with our partners to include additional construction materials, and establish data collection standards for impactful project comparisons.    The Memorandum of Understanding recently signed by the above groups envisions a ‘Circularity Accelerator’ of like-minded groups working to improve circularity in the built environment.     There is a significant opportunity to minimize waste and emissions in our built environment, and Hang Lung is pleased to be collaborating with our partners to address this challenge.      #HangLung #WeDoItWell #Sustainability #JoiningForces #ResourceManagement

#DidYouKnow The production of tiles releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases from the extraction of raw materials and the manufacturing process. You can do your part as an informed customer, by looking at manufacturers with eco-friendly tiles, like our Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) partner, Heritage Ceramics (APAC) Pte Ltd. Read the article to learn more

Thank you Singapore Environment Council (SEC) for the mention! We are honoured to collaborate with SEC, a distinguished organisation, on an article focused on enhancing consumer awareness regarding eco-conscious tile selection for home renovation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA32XECJ As a B2B organisation, we recognise the importance of addressing environmental issues to the end-users. Recognising a knowledge gap between businesses and consumers, we have observed that while businesses prioritise sustainability, consumers often lean towards colour and design when browsing tile selections. Additionally, whether a new apartment is a green building or not may not be top of mind during the selection process. Heritage Ceramics will continue to focus on efforts to educate end consumers on sustainability within building materials like tiles. We aspire to foster an environment where both consumers and businesses are actively pushing the boundaries of sustainability! #HeritageCeramics #ceramictiles #ceramictile #porcelain #porcelaintiles #porcelaintile #tile #tiles #tilestyle #tiledesign #tilemanufacturer #tilesmanufacturer #singapore #china #sustainability #environmentaldesign #environmentalsustainability #tiletrends #tilesexporter #tileshowroom #cerambath2024 #cerambath #exhibitions #exhibition #exhibition2024 #chinatiles

It is now difficult to imagine a home, office, shopping mall, or public transport system in Asia’s cosmopolitan areas without controlled temperatures. Modern construction and design practices significantly impact carbon emissions, contributing to a substantial portion of global energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Today, air conditioning systems alone account for nearly 4% of global greenhouse gases. To combat the environmental impact of modern construction, architects in Asia are turning to heritage for sustainable solutions. At Our Heritage Homes, we are dedicated to preserving the essence of privately owned heritage properties. We believe that traditional methods of adapting to and manipulating the local climate in these heritage homes serve as valuable examples of sustainable solutions today. These methods, including features like high ceilings, large windows, and the use of natural materials, are now being combined with cutting-edge green technology to create sustainable buildings. Key examples include Jason Pomeroy's zero-carbon homes in Malaysia and Singapore, which leverage natural light and ventilation. Let’s discover some of the most sustainable projects currently under construction in Asia below. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gKYP6XbC #propertyguru #sustainable #architecture #heritage #ourheritagehomes

At NOËL & MARQUET, sustainability isn't just an initiative—it's at the core of every decision we make and every product we develop. Our commitment to circularity is evident in our meticulous sourcing of raw materials and our proactive approach to recycling. By integrating post-consumer and post-industrial waste into our production, we significantly cut down on fossil-fuel based materials, turning waste like old refrigerators and small household appliances into valuable resources for our premium mouldings. Our goal is ambitious but clear: by the end of 2026, we aim for all NOËL & MARQUET polystyrene products, including our popular WALLSTYL® and NOMASTYL® lines, to contain over 30% recycled content. This target isn't just a number—it's a testament to our dedication to sustainable transformation in the decorative elements industry. Learn more about how we're driving sustainability in every facet of our operations, from circularity to decarbonisation and empowerment, and join us on our sustainability journey. Read more about our sustainability transformation: https://lnkd.in/eHRYf85Q #sustainability #journey #madeinbelgium #belgium #noelmarquet #noelandmarquet #createuniquelivingspaces #interior #interiordesign #mouldings #walldesign #walldecor

Here are 5 innovative buildings from around the world that inspire us!⁠ ⁠ 1. Amager Bakke: Copenhagen. Copenhill, designed by Copenhagen-based architecture firm BIG, is a unique building that combines a waste-to-energy plant with sports facilities. The structure serves as a heat and power plant for the area and features a year-round artificial ski slope, hiking path, and climbing wall. This innovative project supports Copenhagen's goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025.⁠ ⁠ 2. The Parkroyal Collection Pickering, designed by Singaporean firm WOHA, is a luxury hotel in central Singapore known for its lush green facades. Dubbed a "hotel within a garden," it features 15,000 square meters of elevated terraced gardens that are self-sustaining with solar cells, rainwater collection, motion sensors, and reclaimed water. The building has won numerous awards for its innovative, sustainable architecture.⁠ ⁠ 3. The 240-meter Bahrain World Trade Center in Manama is a landmark of sustainable design. Designed by Arkins, the twin towers feature wind turbines on sky bridges, making it the first building to integrate wind technology into its structure. The turbines were developed and installed by Danish company Norwin in 2008.⁠ ⁠ 4. The Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou is a model of sustainable architecture, designed to be the most energy-efficient super-tall building in the world. It reduces energy use by 58% compared to similar structures through innovative green energy solutions.⁠ ⁠ 5. One Central Park in Sydney, a joint venture by Frasers Property and Sekisui House, is a key part of the city's urban renewal project. The mixed-use building, with two residential towers and a retail center, earned a 5 Star Green Star from the Green Building Council of Australia, making it the largest multi-residential building to achieve this rating.⁠ ⁠ Looking to bring innovation in your projects?⁠ Contact us here: https://lnkd.in/dS6FBibZ #InnovativeArchitecture #ArchitectureFirms #NVKGroup

It is an imperative measure to lead industry to good direction. Using the "yellow“ glue save only hundreds dollars but has non measureable severe healthy consequency. need to control budget with clear requirement on the outcome, not only a physical outcome but also the intangile outocme like IAQ, efficiency. consumption. it will be much better if agencies and tacs could move this one at higher priority as it affects daily life.

Local authorities are reviewing the use of #formaldehyde in products such as furniture and adhesives, following recent media reports of Singapore residents falling ill due to high formaldehyde levels in their furnishings with CNA reporting in July that one family paid $1,000 for treatments to their wooden cabinets and shelves after their young children repeatedly fell sick due to high levels of the chemical. The full news articles are linked below: ✔ https://str.sg/4XwV2 ✔ https://lnkd.in/gkWJA-86 The industry has been working to curb use of formaldehyde, the most recent development being that Singapore will ban formaldehyde in paint used for the interiors of buildings from January 2026. This is an outcome from the efforts of the Alliance for Action on Sustainable Spaces, comprising the Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) and Singapore Green Building Council, which launched a set of industry guidelines and recommendations - including suggestions for modified emission limits for products and furnishings - to improve indoor air quality in 2023. The Guidelines can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gheGejSq #SGBC's Singapore Green Building Product certification scheme, an industry-recognised programme for the built environment sector, certifies building materials for their environmental performance, and wood-based products with #SGBP certification are certified to have low or non-detectable formaldehyde levels, while interior paint products are required to have no formaldehyde. More info on the SGBP can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gajgP5Zf

We are delighted that Lojas Renner S.A. Park Jacarepaguá has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Refurbishment & Fit-Out Project category at the BREEAM Awards 2024! Lojas Renner's Park Jacarepaguá retail store is the first - and remains the only - BREEAM Official certified project in Brazil. The refurbishment project achieved a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating, with a high score of 81.7% down to its innovative circular design. By creating a store founded on circular economy principles Lojas Renner Park Jacarepaguá reduces its environmental impact and promotes the importance of sustainability to its customers encouraging them to adopt a more responsible and sustainable approach to fashion. It was great to be a part of this project working with Lojas Renner S.A., Marco Antonio Röpke and Joana Giugliani - a fantastic example of how refurbishment projects can drive positive impact in real estate. To read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/epwrpy5J For details on the Awards: https://lnkd.in/e2ri4Vmm #BREEAM #BREEAMAwards #Refurbishment #Retrofit #CircularEconomy #SustainableRealEstate