Morbach/Düsseldorf Since 1906, the Kuntz family has dedicated itself to wood in the forest-rich Hunsrück region. Their philosophy aligns perfectly with the natural properties of wood: sourcing from sustainable forestry, minimizing transport distances from the forest to elka Holzwerke in Morbach, and repurposing even sawdust during production. But that’s not all—elka Holzwerke’s wood products are designed to be as healthy for living spaces as possible and fully recyclable. The fourth generation is contributing significant entrepreneurial innovation and investing heavily in the energy transformation in the coming years.

Unbeatable ecological balance, cozy, and a CO₂ storage material: Wood

Wood is ideally suited for holistic sustainability. It is more versatile, durable, and repairable than almost any other construction material. Exclusively produced using solar energy, wood absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere as it grows and stores carbon in its products throughout their entire lifespan. Its ecological balance is unmatched: less energy is required for wood product manufacturing than is generated from the product itself and its production byproducts. This is vital, as the construction sector is responsible for over 50% of total waste and byproduct output. When processed correctly, wood is recyclable, upcyclable, repairable, and long-lasting. The timber used for the world’s oldest wooden house was felled 1,430 years ago, in 594 AD.

Production steps at elka since 2014: Cascade utilization

With its nearly waste-free, unique cascade production system, elka transforms wood waste into wood-based materials through upcycling. Remaining residues are efficiently used for energy production. This approach conserves resources and enhances efficiency. The carbon stored in wood remains usable for an exceptionally long time thanks to elka’s high-quality processing standards. elka offers particularly healthy living products, such as its esb plus and Vita boards. These are manufactured using low-resin fresh wood, low-emission spruce, user-friendly adhesives, in-house developed techniques, and superior technical properties. They are certified and regularly monitored by all relevant certification bodies.

Award-winning elka products

elka products have been recognized with numerous certifications, including DGNB, Sentinel Haus (SHI), Blue Angel, and the Quality Seal for Sustainable Buildings (SHI QNG-ready). Now, the company as a whole has won the German Sustainability Award 2025. The esb plus board, nominated for the same award, offers outstanding technical properties. It supports deconstruction and reuse in circular economies per the criteria of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). Homogeneous performance values make esb Plus more structurally robust than conventional panels, and its superior processing reduces resource consumption.

The low swelling values of the esb PLUS panel facilitate processing and contribute to increased resource-efficient durability of wooden constructions. As a predominantly diffusion-open wood-based material, the panel helps regulate temperature and humidity fluctuations within homes. In the construction sector, this is a unique property among wood-based materials, enabling both open and closed wall constructions. The esb panel ensures moisture transport across the entire wall thickness and throughout the panel's lifespan, preventing mold growth and reducing the need for premature renovations. These exceptional material properties of the esb PLUS panel even allow the application of clay plaster. The premium esb PLUS panel was also nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2025.

Why elka avoids recycled wood in production

Using recycled wood, particularly from class A2 and beyond, seems environmentally friendly at first glance. However, elka takes a holistic view of sustainability and has identified significant risks in its use. Chemicals that recycled wood has been exposed to can end up in new products, potentially endangering workers and users. Studies by the Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences confirm that up to 69% of 468 tested samples were unsuitable for material reuse due to high contaminant levels. Without a reliable quality control system, recycled wood is not used by elka to protect health during downstream usage.

In line with this conviction, prefabricated house companies that are part of elka's customer base and organized within the Federal Association of German Prefabricated Construction (Bundesverband Deutscher Fertigbau) categorically excluded the use of problematic recycled wood from class A2 and above in wood-based materials as early as 2014.

A benchmark in social responsibility

For 77 years, elka has embraced employee representation, establishing its first works council in 1947. The company continuously reviews work processes to ensure health and safety, implementing technical innovations where possible. Employees benefit from subsidized e-bike leasing, free high-quality work clothing, gym membership contributions, retirement plans, bonuses, and further education support. Housing assistance is also offered to help the team of 220 grow.

Invitation to rethink sustainability

elka’s strategies are replicable and scalable for those willing to prioritize quality over mass production at low prices. This approach results in a stable, resilient company with sustainable growth. As the last medium-sized, family-run enterprise in Germany producing wood-based construction panels, elka has demonstrated the strength of long-term thinking and innovation.

Against this backdrop, elka has positioned itself as a sustainable company and consistently demonstrates that significant product advantages can be achieved through research and development. This commitment resonates with others, earning recognition from retailers and purchasing decision-makers, which in turn secures elka a stable position in the competitive market and serves as the foundation for future steps. Elka remains the only family-managed medium-sized enterprise of its scale in the wood-based panel industry in Germany.

Future-proofing through energy transformation

To ensure future generations can benefit from high-quality wood products, elka views sustainability as a continuous process. The company has begun modernizing its energy systems, with plans to reduce CO₂ emissions by at least 40% by 2028, prevent 650 tons of production waste annually, and save 11,000 cubic meters of freshwater per year. This transformation is supported by Germany’s Federal Energy Efficiency Program (EEW). The foundation of this innovation is elka's energy management system, established and certified in 2011 according to DIN EN ISO 50001:2018. This continuous improvement process involves measuring energy consumption, identifying energy-saving measures, and thereby enhancing energy efficiency. For the family-owned company elka, the opportunities presented by this future-focused investment outweigh the challenges. These opportunities lie in increasing the efficiency of energy and raw material use, providing the basis for further strengthening its market position as a sustainable quality leader. Builders, architects, and the specialist trade value this detailed commitment to sustainability.

elka’s history since 1906 reflects entrepreneurial courage and innovation. By investing in efficient resource use and energy transformation, the company is strengthening its market position as a sustainable quality leader. Continuous engagement with forest owners and associations ensures sustainable forestry practices aligned with scientific recommendations and sustainability criteria.

This approach has been complemented since 2020 by life cycle assessments and additional resource-conserving measures.

All wood-processing companies are closely tied to the already noticeable effects of climate change and must take action if German wood is to have a sustainable future. For this reason, elka is also engaging in an intensive dialogue with forest owners and their associations to ensure that scientifically based recommendations for sustainable forestry are implemented in accordance with all sustainability criteria.