WPC Corporation (WPCC) believes wood plastic composite is a material of the future and is vigorously promoting its patented Einwood product as a suitable alternative to exotic hardwoods.

Wood plastic composite material is widely available today in Asia and especially in Japan where it holds a 60 per cent market share in architectural landscaping in the public and private construction sectors, says a spokesman for WPCC.

Einwood was conceptualised and developed by EIN Engineering – the parent firm of the company – as a substitute for wood, made from softwood waste and recycled polymer resins. It has the appearance and qualities of the rarest species of wood while offering a truly eco-friendly alternative, says the spokesman. Its manufacturing process adheres strictly to the original Japanese technique and is produced exclusively in Japan.

Einwood has been tested and verified for its weather and temperature resistance, density, and colour-fastness and is guaranteed to maintain its appearance for 10 years, making it suitable for the harsh environment of the Gulf, he says.

“Although the environment of the UAE is incredibly beautiful, the salt in the atmosphere and relentless sunshine puts all building materials used under intense stress,” he says.

As such, the dependability of Einwood’s mechanical properties and the hard-wearing, slip-resistant character of the composite wood boards are key reasons that the material has been chosen for first-class hotels and resorts such as Park Hyatt and InterContinental Hotel in Dubai; and Raha Beach Resort, Sea Food Restaurant, Al Najmat Island, and Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, all in the UAE.

The product has also been found to be very sustainable. “When Einwood’s performance was compared with natural hardwoods, it was found to have the lowest carbon footprint, in particular because it does not involve the destruction of equatorial forests, and above all because it consists of a minimum of 90 per cent recycled materials,” the spokesman points out.

Finally, unlike natural wood, Einwood does not require annual treatment and has a lower slip coefficient than natural materials. It was these considerations that led to Einwood being awarded the prestigious Japanese Eco Mark as well as Singapore Green Label, reflecting the environment-friendly nature of the material for both indoor and outdoor applications, he adds.

Einwood technology is backed by about 40 years of research and development, which explains why it is naturally chosen for projects in the wood composite materials sector. Equal care and attention has been paid to the technological performance and the environment-friendly qualities of its products, which has placed the brand among industry leaders.

“Einwood is not content simply to set the benchmark for environment-friendly products. The technological qualities of its products are impressive, and more often than not, superior to natural wood. The durability of Einwood composite wood is borne out by installations that have already been in place for many years,” says  the spokesman.

WPCC, headquartered in Tokyo, was established in 2004 as an offshoot of EIN Engineering and is recognised as a leading global brand, well accepted in Europe, Asia, Middle East and other countries.

WPCC, which claims to be the largest international marketing company in Japan of wood plastic composite products and technology, offers worldwide customers both the know-how and licence to manufacture its products. The company is gaining recognition as a success story in the green revolution, the spokesman concludes.

Einwood’s GCC office, Nahar WPCC Japan, is located in Dubai, UAE.