The JAF COMPANYJosé Afonso & Filhos, Lda, was created in 1990 and was a small-scale woodmill in the midst of Oleiros. Mr. José Afonso managed the company with the cooperation of his two sons who took over the family business of forest exploitation and lumber industry after their father’s premature death.
Between 1992 and 2008, the two partners drove their company to a substantial level of business converting it from a small family business into one business of reference in the region.
José Afonso & Filhos, Lda. associates have created during this period, a group of companies thus controlling the main activities, ranging from forest exploitation, transportation, go past fuel and, finally, the industry of wood sub-products with the production of briquettes.
In 1996, with our companies’ growth, it became imperative to relocate them to the industrial park created for this purpose, at the Açude Pinto in Oleiros. Here a new mill was built, equipped with 4 lines and state of the art technical solutions. Besides the mill, another building with offices and other facilities were built and have been operating since 1997.
In 2008, our group already consisted of 5 companies with a sales volume of around 30 million euros, in exports.
The 5 companies employed 120 workers directly and indirectly a superior number of people.
In that year, the two brothers/associates decided to go separate ways dividing the group into two parts, each one controlling its own part.
In that separation process from the group, José Afonso & Filhos was transformed into an incorporated cell company, becoming the owner of the authorized capital stock of Afonso & Filhos Sa and Nova Lenha Lda.
The fusion of Nova Lenha, Lda occurred in 2010, perduring solely José Afonso & Filhos, SA.
After the split, José Afonso & Filhos SA, went through important levels of business growth.
- In 2008, a new pellets factory was built and implemented with a total annual capacity of around 70.000 tn/year.
- In 2010, a new briquettes factory was built and implemented with a total annual capacity of around 7.000 tn/year.
- Still in 2010, big investments were made in the sawmill with the implementation of a new production line for bigger logs thus, enabling the company to respond to different market opportunities for lumber intended for construction.
Beyond the new production line, other investments were made aiming at tackling critical parts of the mill in order to improve productivity,increase profitability and quality.
- In 2011, the company underwent a complete renovation of its fleet and purchased 26 new MAN trucks.
- Between 2008 and 2012 the company expanded its manpower from 60 to 120 employees.
In the last years, the wood mill underwent improvements for a number of times, augmenting its equipment both in quantity and quality. Nowadays, it is provided with 8 wood sawing lines producing 60.000 M3/year.
Nowadays, José Afonso & Filhos, SA is a reference at national level in its sector. Its products are recognized for their high quality, which enabled the company to reach for new markets.
National Market – represents 5% of total sales, with three major clients in Portugal: SONAE, LIDL, INTERMACHE GROUP.
Exports – represent 95% of total sales, divided into different countries in Western Europe, ranging from Nordic countries where pellets are shipped every 20 days, to the national traditional sawed hardwood market in Spain and the Moroccan market, which have been gaining considerable importance over the past few years.
CHAIN OF CUSTODY POLICY
José Afonso & Filhos, SA. (JAF). hereby declares its commitment to implement and follow the Chain of Custody Policy according to the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) (License Code FSC-C115092) initiatives and those of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes)
To this extent, JAF commits itself to insure that each commercialized forest material has no controversial origins, thus taking into consideration and according to the PEFC, the following forest management activities:
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Those that do not comply with local, national or international legislation, mostly related with the following areas:
- Forest operations and exploitation, including the conversion of forests to other land uses;
- Management of protected and highly important environmental and cultural areas;
- Protected and threatened species, including the requirements of CITES;
- Labour and health related issues regarding forest workers;
- Holding, property and exploitation rights of native populaces;
- Payment of rates and taxes.
- That use genetically modified organisms,
- That promotes the conversion of forests to other types of vegetation, including the conversion of primary forests into forest plantations.
The company also want to insure that it shall not be directly or indirectly involved in the following activities, which are considered unacceptable by the FSC:
- Illegal cut or commercialization of wood or of illegal forest products;
- Violation of human and traditional rights in forest operations;
- Destruction of high conservation values in forest operations;
- Significant conversion of forests into plantations or other non forest land uses;
- Introduction of genetically modified organisms in forest operations;
- Violation of any of the main conventions of the ILO as stipulated in the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
JAF commits itself to comply with social, health and safety requisites at the working-place, ensuring to all its workers the freedom of association, of representation and collective bargaining, prohibiting the use of forced and child labour. It further assures equal employment opportunities and treatment and promotes adequate heath and safety-related working conditions for all its workers.