Hiil is a sustainable wood-charring company. Hiil sources underutilised wood streams from industry and chars the timber at its surface. The end product, charred wood, can be used in construction as a cladding and surface material.
What kind of product or service is it?
Charred CircuWood™ is industrial wood by-product that has been cleaned with fire at the surface and can be used as a cladding material in construction. The fire removes aesthetic defects from the wood’s surface and gives it a beautifully rugged, black finish. At the same time, charring protects the wood from moisture, decay, and other degrading factors.
Hiil sources underutilised by-product streams from the construction and wood industries — materials that would not otherwise be used in long-lasting construction. This way, the wood can be kept in use for a longer period, and the carbon stored in it is not burned into the atmosphere as energy.
Charring wood is an ancient method for protecting it from external conditions. Hiil has brought this technique into an industrial and energy-efficient scale and uses circular-economy-based timber as its raw material. Hiil’s production process operates with almost no external fuel and is waste-free.
How is the solution related to the circular economy?
Timber used on construction sites, such as formwork wood, support structures, and protective boards, can gain a new life through charring. The wood can be utilised in various structures where a rough surface is an intentional aesthetic feature. If the timber were not charred and returned to construction use, it would be burned for energy, which would also waste the work and effort originally put into producing it.
Wood by-products generated in the sawmill industry are often used as an energy source or for very short-lived, low-value purposes. By charring the surface of this timber as well, it can be used in long-lasting construction applications, keeping the material in circulation for a longer time.