Plant in Elma Washington Officially in Production.
To quote a song made popular by the iconic Nina Simone “It’s a new dawn. It’s a
new day. It’s a new life.” And they’re feelin’ good in Elma, WA. where NewWood
has just shipped the first of its innovative composite panels made of 50% recycled
plastic and 50% recycled wood. And in the process, they’ve breathed new life into
a town by employing residents of an area in Washington state that has been
affected by chronic unemployment.
Utilizing wood and plastic waste from local landfills, NewWood is dedicated to making
“Better materials to build a better world.” According to CEO John Bowser, NewWood
makes for superior building material vs. plywood because it’s “waterproof, insect and
bacteria resistant, and easy to use. And, of course, it’s eco-friendly.”
NewWood’s patented PressAire technology allows them to take what’s been literally
tossed-away and transform it into sustainable boards that could fundamentally
transform how hundreds of products from containers to buildings are made. And
since it’s made from 100% recycled material, it may very well transform the world.
A new dawn, indeed.
NewWood Exec is a Keynote Speaker at WSRA Conference.
Lincoln Ferris, vice president of Strategic Development was welcomed at the 31st Annual Washington State
Recycling Association Conference in Pasco as one of its keynote speakers. Quite an honor for NewWood,
a company that just recently rolled its first panels off of the production line. The conference is a showcase
for what’s new in the world of recycling and waste education programs.
His presentation entitled “Too Good to Waste” apparently created quite a buzz. Because out of the 35
booths, NewWood’s drew the most attention amongst the approximately 250 industry professionals.
According to Lincoln Ferris, “Our attendance here helped us create several new connections in the recycling
industry. For example, we are in talks with CleanScapes, a collector of recycling in the Puget Sound area,
to try and determine a viable way for them to collect ‘cleaner’ plastic. Simultaneously, we want to get
involved in their RFP response from the city of Issaquah. They want their waste collector to set up
receptacles around the city to collect unwanted grocery bags.” CleanScapes CFO Chris Husband was
enthusiastic that NewWood is a local manufacturer interested in buying those ‘clean’ bags, rather than
CleanScapes shipping them overseas to be re-used.
NewWood also has an opportunity to work with NavFac – a company responsible for transportation of naval
goods and materials in Washington state. NavFac literally has tons of used and damaged pallets that are
no good for shipping but perfect for making NewWood.
So, the conference was a win-win-win for many green-minded companies in Washington.
Give them Your Thoughts, NewWood may Give You an iPad 2.
The sustainability and durability of NewWood make it the perfect material for manufacturing many products. In Elma,
they’ve already identified over 100 uses including crates, pallets, bins, underlayment, siding, fencing, storage sheds,
signage, mobile home skirts and much more. Visit the NewWood website at NewWood.com and take a look
at all of the suggested usages. They welcome your input to come up with even more ways to use
NewWood. On December 31, 2011, the people at NewWood will choose the best suggestion, and that
innovative person will receive an iPad 2.
Some things to keep in mind while you’re thinking: NewWood is bacteria and insect resistant, so it’s
especially suited for food transportation. It’s water-resistant which makes it ideal for outdoor use. It’s easy
to work, virtually dust-proof and so well-engineered, the 4' x 8' x 7/16" panel can be nailed within 1/4 inch
of an edge without splitting, making it an exceptional material for small construction projects. So, put your
thinking caps on. Caps. Maybe the only things that wouldn’t be made better with NewWood.
