Products from Renewable Raw Materials

What we use

The foundation of our wood coatings is plant-based oils and waxes: primarily soybean oil, sunflower oil, and linseed oil, supplemented by further natural oils as well as cooked oil blends — refined combinations that we formulate according to the requirements of each individual product. These are complemented by natural waxes that protect and nourish surfaces without sealing the wood structure.

These raw materials are biodegradable, part of the natural carbon cycle, and place considerably less burden on the environment than petroleum-based alternatives — both during manufacturing and throughout the subsequent handling of coated wood.

How much of it is actually in our products?

That depends on the product and its requirements. Our interior products typically achieve particularly high proportions of renewable raw materials. PNZ Brettl-Balsam and Das PNZ-Öl, for example, are made from well over 95 % renewable raw materials. For exterior products that must withstand prolonged exposure to weather, UV radiation, and biological attack, the formulation is technically more demanding — yet even here, the proportion of renewable raw materials is kept as high as the requirements allow.

Our goal is not a blanket percentage, but the best possible balance between natural composition and performance in each case.

Where do the raw materials come from?

We source our raw materials as regionally as possible:

• Around 50 % comes from Bavaria
• Over 80 % from Germany
• Around 95 % from the EU

Short supply chains reduce transport emissions and support regional producers. They also allow us to trace the origin and quality of our inputs more reliably — which matters as much for the consistency of our formulations as it does for our sustainability record.

Natural origin does not mean lower performance

Plant-based oils penetrate deep into the wood without forming a closed film layer. The wood remains breathable, can regulate moisture, and retains its natural structure. Natural waxes protect the surface without enclosing it. Minor damage can be repaired locally — a significant advantage over film-forming systems.

That these properties are not a compromise is demonstrated by our work with testing institutions including IBR, DiBt, and the Fraunhofer Institute: our products are assessed against the same standards as conventional coatings — and pass.

Where and why we make exceptions

Not every requirement can be met with renewable raw materials alone — and we say so plainly.

For certain exterior products, we use organic solvents where water-based systems cannot achieve the necessary penetration depth or weather resistance. Where wood is permanently exposed to attack by fungi, algae, or mould, we work with biocides in isolated cases.

All products containing such ingredients are labelled accordingly — in the product data sheet, the safety data sheet, and on the packaging. Anyone who wants to know exactly what is in a product will find the complete information there.

What we still want to find out

The question of which renewable raw materials deliver the best results under which conditions is not yet fully answered. Together with external research institutes, we are working to further increase the proportion of renewable raw materials — without compromising on protective performance or durability. What we learn feeds directly into product development.