Creative minds at Dawoko Company are exploring inventive uses for carbonized wood.
Having grown up helping in his parents’ charcoal factory in Hukou Township of northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County, Chen Wei-cheng (陳偉誠) is intimately familiar with the local industry. His affinity for forests and passion for protecting the environment inspired him to follow in his parent’s footsteps by centering his career on the all-natural material. At the same time, Chen was cognizant of decreasing demand for charcoal as a fuel and knew he would have to think outside the box in devising alternative uses for it.
From this awareness sprang Dawoko Company, which Chen founded with college classmates in 2006. The company offers a range of toxin-free cleansers for people and pets incorporating plant extracts and wood vinegar distilled from gasses given off during the charcoal-making process. They also utilize biochar, another byproduct of combustion, to create fertilizers and household cleaning agents.
While such wares have steadily gained in popularity due to word-of-mouth marketing, Dawoko’s charcoal planters were an instant bestseller when they hit shelves last year. The idea for the latter was born of Chen’s desire to repurpose waste wood collected from trees felled by typhoons or pruned fruit trees. It took the team over a year of experimenting to find the proper kiln temperature for creating carbonized wood ideal for nurturing plants and to identify which species would grow best on the surface. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, the planters boast excellent deodorizing and dehumidifying properties.
With its commitment to sustainability and diverse selection of charcoal products, Dawoko is sure to keep the fire in its kiln burning for years to come.
—by Jim Hwang
Charcoal planters are washed to reduce their alkalinity.
Dawoko Company founder Chen Wei-cheng
A staffer removes charcoal from the kiln. (Photo courtesy of Chen Wei-cheng)
The company conducts experiments to determine which plants grow best on carbonized wood.
Dawoko’s charcoal planters made from waste wood are proving immensely popular among consumers.
Charcoal’s natural deodorizing and dehumidifying abilities make the planters ideal for indoor use.