Looking for a profitable use of the small-diameter logs obtained from thinning harvesting (one of the major objectives from WOODNAT project), Bosques Naturales shaped several years ago the brand Woodna (www.woodna.es) to create small-sized wooden objects with emphasis in design and fashion.

One of the Woodna’s iconic products are the sustainable handbags integrating vegetable tanned leather and walnut (Juglans x intermedia) precious woods from planted forests (https://woodna.es/tienda/producto-categoria/moda/).

Woodna’s sustainable handbags are the results from the collaboration between Bosques Naturales and the fashion designer Ulises Mérida (www.ulisesmerida.com) and were recently exposed in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid where they have had a great acceptance by the sector with many reviews in the social media (e.g. lofficiel.es/moda/ulises-merida-moda-trabajo-colaboradores-lujo/, www.elespanol.com/estilo/moda/20170914/246725989_0.html, www.vogue.es/desfiles/primavera-verano-2018-mercedes-benz-fashion-week-madrid-ulises-merida/14507/galeria/pasarela-12127/23790). 

Majo Vergara (Fashion accessories Creative Director from Woodna) highlights the concept of sustainability as a keystone of this product. The precious walnut wood is obtained from Spanish planted forests sustainable managed is combined with environmentally friendly chromium-free vegetable tanned leather.

Within this project, Bosques Naturales SA shared their experiences about management of agroforestry systems either about the intercropping of maize between the walnut (Juglans x intermedia) plantation lines and the silvopastoral system consisting on sheep grazing used as weed control in the planted forest.

On September the 20th WOODNAT Project was presented by SEISTAG at the professional encounters of A Estrada fair, an international fair on furniture with more than 30 years of life.

Between September the 19th to 21st, WOODNAT Coordinator from SEISTAG had the opportunity to steer the Professional Encounters at Feira do Moble de A Estrada, which is an international meeting on furniture. A Estrada is placed in the north west of Spain. It is a region with skilful wood workers and large tradition on carpentry. Feira do Moble de A Estrada pays special attention to wood industry and design. The meeting has a large tradition, being the current edition the number 31.

In 2017 the Professional Encounters at Feira do Moble de A Estrada grouped designers, technologists and professionals from different fields during four days, from 18th to 21st of September. This space of debate was also a place for public presentation of new technologies, designs and many different European Projects running around wood industry and design.

On Tuesday the 19th WOODNAT Project was explained to the public. Technicians from SEISTAG, ASIMOV and LOSAN gave explanations during the meeting. It was also the day for a debate between two Spanish Research Centres focused on wood industry. From one hand there was CETEMAS represented by Juan Majada and Isabel Parrado. From the other, Francisco Pedras shared his experience at CIS MADEIRA. Both Centres are the two leading Research Bodies in Spain for wood Research and Development. Both organizations are placed in the North West of the country.

The day before, on Monday the 18th, it was time to present PRINTODECO Project. This is a collaborative development focused on the possibilities of digital printing applied to wood industry and furniture design. The Project Coordinator and the Technical Director explained the details and first results. The Project Coordinator from the Company TORCULO, Jacobo Bermejo, showed products based on digital printing applied to wood. The innovative materials caught the interest of the professionals present at the meeting.

After WOODNAT presentation, on Wednesday 20th, WORTH Project was shared with the professionals present at the meeting. It was nearly the public presentation of the Project: it opened to the public just two days before. WORTH is a European Project focused on helping designers and producers to collaborate. Therefore, the Project provides grants and coaching to the most interesting and disruptive ideas. The meeting counted with the participation of Fermín Blanco, Xulio Turnes and Tamara Vila. They are young talents on design who show different approached to the challenge of innovative wood design.
The last Professional meeting was held on Thursday 21st. That day DESIGN4INNOVATION Project was explained to the public. Montserrat Rodríguez conducted the presentation of this work program which is focused on improving public policies to boost design. The project is participated by different European Countries with the aim of sharing best practises on design. During the journey, two professionals shared their experience. From one hand, José Manuel Iglesias who success to innovate in the field of design driving the Spanish Company GALOPIN to export worldwide. From the other hand, Alberto Alonso. He directs VEREDES, being a local influencer on the internet regarding architecture and design.

On September the 15th WOODNAT Project was present at the meeting for industrials and designers at Cidade da Cultura de Galicia. More than 60 professionals attend to the meeting organized by Cluster da Madeira e o Deseño de Galicia.

On September the 15th the Coordinator of WOODNAT Project steered a roundtable about collaboration between design and industry. It took place in Santiago de Compostela, at the international cultural centre named Cidade da Cultura. The debate was part of a meeting about design and industry organized by the regional Wood Industry Cluster. This is a traditional meeting point for professionals as it has been held every two years since more than 15 years ago.
The 2017 roundtable gathered qualified representatives from three different fields. Tania Pichel, from Molduras del Noroeste, and Ana Hermida from Muebles Hermida represented manufacturing sector. Designers were also present: Xabier Rilo and Ricardo Tubío from Cenlitrosmetrocadrado from one hand; and José Antonio Vázquez from Studio Nomad from the other. Finally, two Spanish research centres took part in the debate: Vicente Cambra from AITEX and Montserrat Rodríguez from GAIN CIS MADEIRA.
The roundtable was based on fast interventions that answer to specific questions selected by WOODNAT coordinator. The issues on the collaboration between professional and the opportunities of the sector. The debate was focused on problematic subjects in the design sector like trends, designers and markets. The talk last more than two hours and catched the attention of the public: more than 60 professionals who were present during a daylong journey. The SEISTAG R&D director steered the dialogue being the use of walnut wood a specific question.