Material Cause – ForestOne

ForestOne is committed to providing responsibly sourced, premium materials to the Australian market. With an extensive and evolving product range, the company’s forward-thinking mindset and sustainability-focused philosophy strengthens its 140-year history, and today it is the largest independent distributor of plywood, timber, laminate and decorative surface materials in Australia.

The ForestOne range has grown significantly; it has expanded from timber products to a comprehensive collection of versatile building materials and surfaces, available Australia-wide. Its evolution has seen the coming together of four companies – Gunnersen, Australian Forest Products, Crown Timber and ForestOne International – under the single ForestOne brand. The cornerstone is the extensive, responsibly sourced product range; its diversity and quality demonstrate the company’s passion for innovation alongside a vision for a more eco-conscious built environment.

ForestOne’s cornerstone is the extensive, responsibly sourced product range; its diversity and quality demonstrate the company’s passion for innovation alongside a vision for a more eco-conscious built environment.

The core range of building materials includes structural, non-structural and décor overlay plywood, exterior cladding, an array of fireboard and project panels and more. ForestOne is also one of Australia’s largest timber suppliers, specialising in outdoor timbers such as white cypress pine, treated pine and merbau. As well as this, there is a broad decorative range of EGGER laminates, DESIGNER PLY® wall panelling, joinery and ceiling panels, and MEGANITE acrylic solid surfaces, all suitable for a variety of domestic and commercial applications.

ForestOne’s structural products represent highly functional and dependable construction materials with engineered design values. Formply is an exceptional formwork option due to the high-density resin overlay, which protects the hardwood face veneer from poured concrete, while the collection of structural plywood is made to withstand long-term use and exposure. ForestOne also carries a range of LVL – an increasingly popular engineered mass timber favoured for its unrivalled strength and durability.

ForestOne only sources and distributes products that progress environmental, social and financial sustainability, equipping architects and designers with the information and materials they require to source and specify responsibly.

DESIGNER PLY® sits within the non-structural range, and it illustrates plywood’s diversity and aesthetic value. Often specified for wall panelling, ceiling lining or displays, it is also a clever choice for non-decorative elements such as crates and furniture carcasses. ForestOne offers exterior cladding, too; SHADOWCLAD® plywood panels are available in a grooved or textured profile and feature a rough band-sawn surface, which helps to diffuse UV rays and withstand the effects of the harsh Australian sun.

ForestOne sees responsible material specification as a key element of sustainable design and construction. Specifiers can minimise their environmental impact by reducing reliance on natural resources, using reclaimed and recyclable materials, avoiding materials with high embodied emissions or simply by creating less waste. As such, ForestOne only sources and distributes products that progress environmental, social and financial sustainability, equipping architects and designers with the information and materials they require to source and specify responsibly.

There are six pillars that support ForestOne’s goal to encourage sustainability in design and construction – ‘People and Process’, ‘Products’, ‘Projects’, ‘Places’, ‘Promotion’ and ‘Philosophy’. These pillars ensure ForestOne’s mission remains at the forefront of its holistic approach to supply and specification. Together, the pillars address the company’s output on both micro and macro levels – from showroom locations and trade promotions to a constant stream of enquiries and demands regarding ForestOne’s products and its overarching identity.

As the need for environmental and social conscience in design and construction increases, ForestOne’s enduring mission seems more important than ever. There is an appetite for materials and building solutions that represents a responsible and informed choice, and ForestOne is well positioned to deliver.