Rayon is the first ever regenerated cellulose fiber invented. With the development of technology, three generations of rayon have emerged: viscose, modal, and lyocell. Though all of these fibers come … Read more

TENCEL™ is a fabric trademark that has become a common fabric for many products. The Austrian company Lenzing AG trademarked TENCEL™ for their two rayon fabrics: TENCEL™ Modal and TENCEL™ Lyocell. However, the term “Tencel” is often used interchangeably for only lyocell, one of the more sustainable fabrics. So we had to ask: How sustainable are TENCEL™ fabrics?

Modal, or modal rayon fabric, was first developed in 1951 in Japan as an alternative to silk. This fabric is soft like silk but highly breathable and durable. However, some modal manufacturers still depend heavily on fossil fuels for energy and artificial chemicals. So we had to ask: How sustainable are modal fabrics?

Viscose, or viscose rayon, was originally developed as an artificial alternative to silk. And to create silk-like properties, conventional manufacturers put the raw plant-based materials through energy and chemically intensive processes. So we had to ask: How sustainable are viscose fabrics?

Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fiber, which seems to, regarding sustainability, marry the best of both worlds: natural and artificial fibers. The manufacturing process, which uses advanced synthetic substances, creates a durable fabric that doesn’t require washing frequently – telltale signs of the material’s sustainability. So we had to ask: How sustainable are lyocell fabrics?

Wood is generally a sustainable material for making furniture inside your home, largely thanks to carbon uptake by timber trees. However the environmental impacts of using wood differ depending on the renewing rates vary among tree species, traveling distance, and method of transportation as well as how sustainably they are grown and logged. So we have to ask: Which woods are the most sustainable for indoor furniture?

Wood is generally a sustainable building material, largely thanks to carbon uptake by timber trees. Woods are renewable, though renewing rates vary among tree species. Some woods travel a long distance to reach construction sites, and if they are heavy hardwoods, these transporting miles make a sizable impact on the overall carbon footprint. So we have to ask: Which woods are the most sustainable for construction?

Softwoods usually come from evergreen conifers that grow fast, replenishing timber quickly while sequestering carbon dioxide. However, some softwoods don’t last very long, especially compared to hardwood species. So we have to ask: Which softwoods are the most sustainable option for our wood projects?

Sapele is a durable hardwood from Africa – a highly-prized alternative to genuine mahogany. It is stronger and harder than mahogany and can be a long-lasting material for furniture, luxury flooring, and musical instruments. However, the population of sapele trees has been decreasing fast due to the timber’s popularity. So, we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made of sapele wood?

Wood is generally a sustainable material, largely thanks to carbon uptake by timber trees. Besides, wood is renewable, though renewing rates vary among plant species. The environmental impacts of using wood also depend on transportation and forest management. So we have to ask: Which woods are the most sustainable for indoor floors?

Koa is a durable and beautiful hardwood from Hawaii – an exotic tropical jewel from the US forests. It is one of the most valuable woods in the world, sought after for furniture and musical instruments. However, koa forests play hugely important ecological roles in the tropical hotspot of the Pacific, so we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made of koa wood?

Traditionally, a guitar is made with one to three types of tonewood, from body to neck. And the tonewood used for guitars is largely sustainable thanks to its carbon sequestration. However, the environmental impacts of using wood vary based on the tree species, the management of native forests, traveling distances, and the method of transportation. So we have to ask: Which woods are the most sustainable for guitars?

Cypress wood makes long-lasting musical instruments, flooring, and garden decking, thanks to its natural durability. However, the populations of important cypress timber species are decreasing due to regeneration difficulties within their natural range. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of cypress wood?

Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are engineered wood products that recycle wood flour or fibers from different stages of other timber products. Using wood waste is a telltale sign of their sustainability. However, the majority of WPCs contain fossil-based, non-biodegradable polymers. Also, composite panels’ synthetic additives raise some health and environmental alarms. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of wood plastic composite?

Basswood is a soft hardwood species, easy to be machined and shaped into thin sections. Some telltale signs of basswood’s sustainability are fast growth rate and vegetative reproduction. However, as the basswood trees support a lot of mammals, birds, and insects, cutting down the trees hurts wildlife. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of basswood?