ECOLOGY
Barlinek supports ecology and is involved in activities which help to save the natural environment. As we run our business responsibly, we know the importance of how we treat the environment which surrounds us, which is why we try to actively influence development of the ecosystem we all live in.
THE CUSTOMERS FOREST – THE 1 FOR 1 PRINCIPLE
There are now over 18 million trees growing in Barlinek’s Customers Forest!
The “1 for 1 ” scheme covers forestry inspectorates in 4 provinces – Lubuskie, Western Pomerania, Pomerania and Wielkopolskie. The programme has been conducted in Ukraine since 2007, and nearly half a million trees have been planted there so far. The most recent addition to the programme is Russia, where Barlinek can boast of a legacy of 137 thousand saplings.
Barlinek’s Customers Forest is systematically expanding. Some of the trees growing there are ten years old and new ones are constantly appearing. So the company’s customers have reasons to celebrate. Firstly, they can enjoy their beautiful, natural wood floor, and secondly they are aware that thanks to them, trees are planted for future generations to enjoy.
Forests are one of the typical characteristics of our country’s landscape – they cover 29% of its area. They provide a haven for thousands of species of animals and plants, protect the soil against erosion and their beneficial influence on all of us cannot be overestimated. Thanks to forests we can breathe fresh air, relax in natural surroundings and enjoy close contact.
From concern for the good of future generations and to maintain forest resources in the best possible condition, they are systematically renewed and enlarged. For 24 years now, since 2000, the Barlinek Group – the largest manufacturer of wood floors in Poland and one of the world leaders – has been very actively involved in this action.
The inspiration for the company’s scheme, known as the 1 for 1 Principle, was to compensate nature for the valuable raw material which is the wood used by the company to manufacture its products. Thanks to Barlinek’s initiative, there are now over 18 million trees growing.
BARTEK THE OAK
The legendary oak known as Bartek grows in Zagnańsk in Świętokrzyskie province. It belongs to the common or pendunculate oaks endemic throughout lowland Poland and in the mountains – it has greenish, longitudinally striped acorns on a long stalk. Bartek is the best known tree in Poland and one of our three oldest oaks. In the years between the two world wars it was declared by a special competition jury to be the grandest and most valuable monument to Polish nature.
According to tradition, the tree has been there for 1,200 springs, although scientists usually estimate its age as around 700 – 1,000 years. In spite of such a long life and numerous experiences, the oak is still growing and bearing fruit – each year vast amounts of acorns appear on its immense boughs. It once had 14 main and 16 side boughs, and now still has 8 main boughs, although it is gradually decaying and can no longer support its own great weight and the pressure of the wind
HISTORY
The tree is shrouded in many legends. According to one of these, Bolesław Krzywousty himself rested under Bartek. Another claims that Jan III Sobieski, returning from the Vienna Campaign, hid a bottle of wine, sabre and Turkish matchlock rifle in a hollow.
Bartek’s official measurements are:
• diameter at a height of 130 cm (breast-height diameter) – 314 cm,
• breast-height circumference – 985 cm,
• ground-level circumference – 1340 cm,
• height – 30 m,
• head diameter – approx. 40 m,
• wood volume – over 70 m3.
The king of Polish trees requires conservation, care and general upkeeping. Barlinek’s assistance helps maintain this historic oak for future generations.
WE SAVE FALCONS
For years, young peregrine falcons have been systematically released into the wild deep in the primeval Barlinek Forest. Where do they come from? The reintroduction of this endangered bird of prey to its natural habitat is happening under the auspices of a scheme to restore the species. This action has been made possible by the financial support provided for years by Barlinek S.A. So far 55 of these beautiful birds have gained their freedom.
The birds’ wardens take care to ensure that the young are brought up in conditions as similar to those in nature as possible. The next stage is to hang special baskets with the young on trees somewhere in the heart of the Barlinek Forest. The birds sit closed inside for two to three weeks, before their wardens open the cages. At first the young falcons feel uncertain in the bosom of nature, and some of them remain in the baskets for some time. Others fly around the spot where they have been released, not daring to venture further. The young are fed and monitored until they become completely independent, which usually takes three weeks. All the birds are ringed so that they can be observed in future.
The vast expanse of the Barlinek forestry inspectorate seems to be perfect hunting terrain for peregrine falcons, and provides excellent conditions for them to nest in the treetops. The birds’ lifestyle means that observing them is not easy. Falcons regularly change their hunting areas and often fly across our western border. Several of the falcons bred as part of the reintroduction programme are currently nesting in Germany.
The process of almost complete extinction of the peregrine falcon began in the 1960s in Poland and throughout Europe. The population was destroyed due to the chemicals used on a large scale at that time to protect plants, which accumulated in the birds’ bodies. The toxins disrupted the falcons’ calcium balance, weakening the shells of the eggs they laid resulting in them being crushed by the females incubating them
In the face of a catastrophic fall in the population, intensive work was undertaken on rearing peregrine falcons, and then on ways of reintroducing them to the wild. One of these, involving the use of artificial nests and known as the test-flight method, is used in the Barlinek forestry inspectorate.
The vast forested areas satisfy all their needs and offer excellent conditions for development. Falcons choose treetops as sites for their nests, but sometimes when they are driven from the forests they settle in habitats which are not natural for them, such as on the chimneys of abandoned factories or the roofs of tall buildings.
The project is conducted by Barlinek S.A. in collaboration with Barlinek Forestry Inspectorate and the “Falcon” Association for Wild Animals (Sokół). More information about falcons –www.peregrinus.pl – “Falcon” Association for Wild Animals (Sokół).
TRIGENERATION – BARLINEK’S GREEN INVESTMENT
Barlinek launched a Trigeneration Unit at its factory in Barlinek October 2018. The unit consists of a 25 MWt biomass-fired boiler for burning woodchips (Barlinek Engineered Wood Flooring production waste), a back-pressure steam turbine coupled with a 5.5 MW power generator.
This thermal energy is produced entirely for the needs of the plant, and electricity production covers approximately 60% of the energy demand of the plant. The launch of the Trigeneration Unit at the Barlinek’s factory resulted in a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of over 70%, measured in Mg (tons) of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
Currently, our own electricity generation covers on average around 60% of the energy demand of the Barlinek’s factory and 100% of heat for production processes.
Read more about trigeneration:
SUPPORTING THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE FABRYKI MARZEŃ FOUNDATION
Fabryki Marzeń (Dream Factories) is a foundation that helps people who found themselves in a difficult situation or lost everything they had due to unforeseen events. It gives them a hand by renovating and remodelling their homes. We are happy to help by donating our Barlinek Engineered Wood Flooring to the Foundation.
WE HELP CHILDREN
For Barlinek, the environment is not the only area of social involvement. For many years, we have been taking care of those in need, especially children, by providing financial and material help.
This aid also includes donating our floors products to centres and institutions of public benefit.
Our products were donated to such institutions as the Bullerbyn Foundation, the Special School Complex No. 31 in Bydgoszcz, the Serce Dzieciom Foundation and Psycho-Oncology Centre.
