Sustainability in practice at Werroform

Werroform stands for sustainable economic activity and responsible use of natural resources. This attitude is largely shaped by the new owners, the Wallner family from Austria and the architect Jon Ritter from Switzerland.

Bernhard Wallner, who is the managing director of Werroform, is not only known as an advocate of sustainable forestry, but is also the head of a traditional inherited farm in Austria, which is located in the middle of a 30-hectare nature reserve. This close connection to nature shapes his understanding of sustainable management. His goal is to further strengthen the company's sustainable orientation and promote the responsible use of wood as a valuable raw material.

Leonhard Wallner, the son of Bernhard Wallner, is already deeply involved in the family business as the designated successor. He holds 50% of the shares in Werroform, while  the other 50% are held by Jon Ritter. Leonhard shares his father's passion for sustainable forestry and brings fresh impetus and innovative ideas to the company, actively shaping Werroform's sustainable future.

Jon Ritter is an architect and runs the Ritter Schumacher architectural firm in Switzerland, which employs 100 people. Having grown up in the mountains, he has a close connection to nature and a keen interest in sustainable construction. His goal is to perfect the best methods for timber construction. Estonia, with its rich timber resources and long-standing expertise in wood processing, offers the ideal environment to achieve this. By purchasing the company Werroform in Võru, Estonia, Jon Ritter is now at the source and can optimally apply his know-how.

Energy efficiency and climate protection:

In February 2025, a pioneering brine-water heat pump with an air-brine heat exchanger as an energy source goes into operation. This system will efficiently heat and cool the production and office space, with the aim of maximising the company's own consumption of renewable energy and gradually making production climate neutral.

Social responsibility:

Werroform is actively committed to the well-being of its employees. In Estonia, the company is setting new standards with above-average salaries that are around 20 to 25% higher than the regional average. A transparent organisational structure and extensive voluntary social benefits make Werroform an attractive employer.

The company also promotes the professional development of young talent by working closely with technical colleges and providing internships at an early stage. In addition, Werroform enables its Estonian employees to gain international work experience at partner companies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. This initiative strengthens both individual development and the global networking of the workforce.

Connecting with Nature:

Werroform cares for wildlife and suistainable living and aims towards future where forestry and modernization will not harm the nature. Many of us, from employees to management, live or have close ties with nature and nature reserves, where the most beautiful and valuable places from a natural point of view are carefully maintained and protected. Considering the above, we want to keep part of our wood production connected with nature, so we add value to timber and produce birdnests to give birds safe nesting & housing.

Society should preserve and protect birds and their habitats and make contributions to support the bird population and wildlife. As Werroform builds environmentally cautious materials and sustainable living spaces, we want to be connected with nature as this is vital for our well-being.

Our partners and respect to the forest

Our sustainability goals will only be achievable if our partners and suppliers understand their role in our mutual sustainability journey and success. Our ideal partner should have a shared vision and commitment to sustainability, backed by tangible actions. From finding like-minded businesses to helping existing partners become more sustainable, we work towards positive change in our supply chain.

This involves:

- sustainable sourcing of material;

- selection of right partners with similar ecological goals;

- working towards sustainable forest management;

-  we only use timber that comes from wisely managed forests, being minimum  FSC® certified.

Amongst our existing partner this criterias are shared by:

Stora Enso

Their sustainable forest management safeguards forest health and protects biodiversity, while providing their customers with renewable resources that can substitute fossil-based materials and help mitigate climate change. They have PEFC and FSC® certifications .

Puumerkki

Puumerkki is in full control of the origins of the wood that it uses. They ensure that all timber that they sell meets the requirements of EU law and national legislation. With Puumerkki’s wood products, we can always be certain that their raw material comes from sustainably managed forests. They use PEFC and FSC® certifications.

Nordic Fiberboard

Committed to using responsibly sourced materials and advanced processes, they create high-quality solutions that contribute to healthier living spaces and a more sustainable future. Their supply chain is based on the highest level transparency and sustainability and hold certifications by both FSC® and PEFC.

Förmann NT

Võru based modern supplier of timber products. The company is FSC® certified.

With these comprehensive measures, Werroform is demonstrating that sustainability is not just a goal, but a reality. Environmental and social responsibility are integral components of the corporate culture – for sustainable, future-oriented development.