Chestnut
Tannin
Chestnut
Tannin
Overview
Nicknamed the ‘bread tree’ its nuts have been a primary source of food for centuries.
The wood is rich in tannin (9% by weight).
Chestnut trees are not clear cut and killed. Coppicing techniques harvest mature wood, making room for subsequent stronger regrowth.
Harvest rates lower than 10% are kept below forest regenerative limits and are infinitely sustainable.
Ecotan Chestnut is PEFC certified - a first in the leather tanning industry.
A regional resource
Silvateam utilizes 100,000 tons of wood per year for the production of tannins. This amount is only a small percentage of the total yearly volume increase of the forest. 80% of the wood is harvested within 43 miles (70 kilometers) of the company’s main facility, based in Piedmont (northern Italy). The remainder comes from other parts of Italy and, in minor quantity (3%), from France.
A regional resource
Silvateam utilizes 100,000 tons of wood per year for the production of tannins. This amount is only a small percentage of the total yearly volume increase of the forest. 80% of the wood is harvested within 43 miles (70 kilometers) of the company’s main facility, based in Piedmont (northern Italy). The remainder comes from other parts of Italy and, in minor quantity (3%), from France.
A rapid growing, long lived resource
Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which harnesses the capacity of chestnut trees to put out new shoots from their stumps. In a coppiced forest – called a Copse- harvestable trees are cut. After cutting, the tree regrows vigorously with new shoots that sprout from the coppiced trunk base called a stool. 3-4 of them grow into proper trees. The coppice regeneration cycle of an actively managed chestnut forest averages 20 to 25 years and can be sustained for the life of the tree; often for centuries.
Read more about the distinction between COPPICING and CLEAR CUTTING
Coppiced forests, when managed correctly, continuously rejuvenate. Unlike typical logging practices where entire forests are clear cut, coppicing retains a uniform coverage of the soil, maintains vital and developing root systems and avoids the overturning and destruction of old trees. This means, unlike clear cut lands, soils in coppiced forests are not disturbed and left prone to erosion. Coppicing doesn’t change the presence of chestnut in the forest- the balance essential to any robust ecosystem is unaffected.
All chestnut wood used in Ecotan formulations come from managed forests that adhere to strict local forestry and environmental regulations.
Promoting mountain economies
The production of tannin is part of the culture of many mountain communities of northern and central Italy.
Traditionally called bread tree, chestnut has been an important source of food for centuries. Today its wood is a source of income for local economies- it is used as fuel, as a choice wood for the furniture industry and, of course, as a source for tannin.
PEFC certification
Silvateam is the first company offering leather tanning products to be rewarded with the forest certification PEFC for its production of chestnut tannins (Certificate number 27910).
This certification is proof of the company’s commitment to the protection of forests and of the communities that rely on those same forests for their livelihood.