Reducing Deforestation with Innovation
Reducing Deforestation with Innovation: How Duroholz WPC Doors Make a Difference
Each wooden door put into your house comes from some tree planted somewhere before you were even born! And each tree takes about 30-50 years to reach maturity.
That’s how I always begin explaining what we do when introducing our customers to WPC Doors. This might sound hyperbolic, but consider this if you have a typical solid teak/sál door in your home, then the amount of usable timber required for it comes from a mature tree that took about 30-50 years to reach maturity. When multiplied by the number of doors India installs every year (millions), the equation becomes uncomfortable, but with WPC doors, there are none of these issues because, unlike traditional wood products, we need zero amount of forest timber. Plus, WPC doors outlast any wooden counterpart in terms of performance in Indian conditions. So let me tell you in simple words what exactly is a W
WPC doors are made with a composite material called Wood Plastic Composite. This involves combining recycled wood powder, virgin HDPE polymer, and various minerals before extruding them together as a solid waterproof panel under heat and pressure.
The hidden cost of a wooden door
While our country has around 1/4th of its geographical land covered with forests and trees, we have always wanted more. And yet our dream of 33% remains unfulfilled. As builders, developers and property owners, we tend to forget how much trees have been cut down just because of the need for more houses. Every house needs many doors – and the default specification on all these doors comes from old habits and standards, as we usually go for timber/plywood core flush doors.
But few know what the hidden costs of wooden/plywood doors are. As few Indian homes would last longer than eight years due to termites eating up the door frames, bathroom humidity damaging door panels and balcony doors warped by two consecutive monsoons. Most homeowners choose to replace these doors within a span of eight years instead of twenty-five years. And this means cutting down another tree!
Reducing deforestation is not just about planting more – but also about needing less.
How WPC doors reduce deforestation
So why do we say switching projects to use WPC means zero forest timber? Because WPC products utilise wood flour (sawdust & mill waste). This was going to be burnt or dumped anyway. It’s being diverted to become a raw material—recycled polymer content. The HDPE component will come from reprocessed plastic too, saving that bit from landfill. There are plenty of other benefits, but let me stick with the environmental ones for now…
Our conventional flush door cores (timber / agro-fiber) usually last around 8-10 years before they need replacing. That’s another couple of decades lost by choosing a WPC solution, which, depending on its application, can be designed to last 25+ years.
No more replacement cores = no more trees
We’re also getting rid of ply, veneers, MDF, etc., as there isn’t really a core within a WPC product to conceal anything. Finally, all those wonderful bits and bobs are fully recyclable at their point of destruction too! So if you put a lot of WPC into your township spec, chances are, I’ll have saved a whole heap of forests! Obviously, one WPC door doesn’t make much impact, but ten thousand certainly does.
WPC vs wooden vs PVC doors: an honest comparison
| Feature | WPC Doors | Wooden / Plywood Doors | PVC Doors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trees used | None | High | None |
| Water resistance | 100% waterproof | Swells and warps | Good |
| Termite & borer proof | Yes | No | Yes |
| Screw holding strength | High | High | Low |
| Structural strength | High | High | Low — flexes, dents |
| Suitable for main door | Yes | Yes | No |
| Typical service life | 20–25 years | 8–15 years | 5–8 years |
| Finish options | Laminate, veneer, PU, membrane | Polish, veneer | Printed film only |
| Maintenance | Wipe clean | Polishing, pest treatment | Wipe clean |
Service life based on typical performance in Indian humidity and monsoon conditions.
Where WPC doors work best in an Indian home
WPC Doors are good for many parts inside your house like Bedrooms, Kitchens, Study room etc. As we know that there are several types of Interior doors but when comes to Modern style of design they prefer Laminate and PU finish on them. So here WPC does all these things well.
Also bathrooms & Utility Areas:
Well this one makes me proud about myself. As everyone knows that standing waters, steam, Moping etc. will damage the quality of Wooden bath rooms. But due to some reason, Every single wooden Bathroom doors in India are getting swollen from the bottom rail only.
Exterior and semi-exterior doors.
Balcony Doors | Terrace Access | Service Entries & Back Doors – With our exterior/semi-exterior doors, you can withstand direct Sun & Rain fall even for Long hours of exposure as we use UV Stabilized WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) to Avoid Warping
Coastal Zones & High Humidity Areas
Being in Coimbatore, Kochi, Chennai, Mangaluru & Konkan belt one would be aware that salt-laden air with high humidity level will rapidly corrode your Timber Joinery but if you go with our WPC products then no need to worry about Moisture absorption
Commercial Projects
If your project is Hospitals, Hotels, schools, or offices, then you don’t have much choice but to install our WPC products, which are known for Hygiene Properties & low maintenance cycles.
What to check before you buy any WPC door
Use this as a specification checklist, whether you buy from us or anyone else:
- Density. Ask for the figure in kg/m³. Low-density panels feel light, hold screws badly and dent.
- Wood flour to polymer ratio. Too much filler makes it brittle. Too little makes it flex.
- Screw withdrawal test. Drive a screw in, take it out, drive it back into the same hole. A good WPC door holds.
- Water immersion. A genuine WPC sample can sit in water for 24 hours with no change.
- UV stabilisation — only if the door is going outdoors.
- Warranty in writing, with what is actually covered.
- Edge finish and lipping quality — this is where cheap doors give themselves away.
If a supplier cannot give you a density number, that is your answer.
FAQs
What is a WPC door made of?
A WPC door is made from wood powder (usually sawmill waste), HDPE polymer and mineral additives, extruded into a solid panel. It contains no forest timber, no plywood and no MDF core.
Do WPC doors really help reduce deforestation?
Yes. WPC doors use zero forest timber and are made largely from wood waste and recycled polymer. They also last two to three times longer than timber doors in humid Indian conditions, which removes repeat replacement cycles.
Are WPC doors better than PVC doors?
For most applications, yes. PVC doors are hollow and flexible, so they cannot hold heavy locks or handle hinge loads. WPC is solid and structural, which makes it suitable for main doors, bedroom doors and exterior doors — not just bathrooms.
Can WPC doors be used as exterior doors?
Yes, provided the door is UV-stabilised. Duroholz exterior-grade WPC doors are engineered for balcony, terrace and service entries with direct sun and rain exposure.
Are WPC doors termite proof and waterproof?
Yes. WPC contains no cellulose that termites or borers can feed on, and it does not absorb water, so it will not swell, warp or delaminate.
How long do WPC doors last?
A well-manufactured WPC door typically lasts 20 to 25 years with minimal maintenance, compared with 8 to 15 years for wooden and plywood flush doors in Indian conditions.
Are WPC doors more expensive than wooden doors?
Upfront cost is usually comparable to a mid-range flush door and lower than solid teak. Over the life of the door, WPC is significantly cheaper because there is no polishing, no pest treatment and no early replacement.
Which is the best WPC door manufacturer in India?
Look for a manufacturer that produces in-house rather than trading, publishes panel density, offers a written warranty and has a product range covering interior, acoustic and exterior applications. Duroholz manufactures its full WPC door range at its Coimbatore facility in Tamil Nadu.
Can WPC doors be customised in size and finish?
Yes. Duroholz WPC doors are available in standard and custom sizes, with laminate, PU, membrane and veneer finish options to suit modern interiors.