Illustration of an acacia tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Acacia Wood? Here Are the Facts

Acacia is one of the prettiest woods out there, offering gorgeous tones and shades. The wood is also extremely versatile and suitable for a wide range of furniture projects. As some acacia species become rarer in the wild, where they provide food for many birds and mammals, we had to ask:  How sustainable is it to buy products made of acacia wood?

Illustration of a merbau tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Merbau Wood? Here Are the Facts

Merbau is a favorite wood for furniture and household projects because of its aesthetic color and durability. Merbau timber weathers well and stands strong against termite attacks. However, high demand for this valuable hardwood drives unsustainable harvesting practices and illegal logging in tropical forests, causing great biodiversity loss. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made with merbau wood?

Illustration of an ebony tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Ebony Wood? Here Are the Facts

Ebony is favored by many furniture and musical instrument makers because of its unique colors, ranging from very dark to jet-black. Its density and hardness are other reasons for the wood’s popularity. However, high demand for this valuable hardwood drives illegal logging and overexploitation in tropical forests, causing great biodiversity loss. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made with ebony wood?

Illustration of a mango tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Mango Wood? Here Are the Facts

Mango wood comes from the same tree as the much-loved mango fruit. It is hard yet flexible and very beautiful. Because mango plantations tend to harvest the tree for lumber only when the fruiting finishes or slows down significantly, mango timber is considered a more sustainable option than other counterparts from tropical regions. Still, we had to ask: How sustainable is mango wood?

Illustration of a teak tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Teak Wood? Here Are the Facts

Teak is the perfect wood for many household projects because it is strong, water-resistant, and rot-resistant. A teak garden table would last for decades and age gracefully while requiring very little care. However, high demand for this valuable hardwood drives illegal logging in old-growth tropical forests, causing great biodiversity loss. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of teak wood?

Illustration of an ipe tree and ipe wood

How Sustainable Is Ipe Wood? Here Are the Facts

Ipe is a tropical wood that looks great and weathers well. It is the wood of choice for many outdoor projects like garden decking or fences. However, the trees are over-logged, and often illegally, in many parts of the world. And as the tropical rainforests, which are home to ipe species, support some of the richest ecosystems in the world, we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of ipe wood?

Illustration of a pine tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Pine Wood? Here Are the Facts

Pine trees make up a large part of the evergreen conifer forests. In fact, one in four American cone-bearing trees is a pine. Though pine trees are available in many parts of the US, logging for pine timber could mean the loss of valuable wildlife habitat. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of pine wood?

Illustration of ash tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Ash Wood? Here Are the Facts

Ash trees can take hold of almost everywhere as they agree with a great variety of soil and situation – greater than any other tree producing timber of equal value. Once widespread across the Eastern United States, the population of ash trees has declined significantly due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of ash wood?

Illustration of padauk wood

How Sustainable Is Padauk Wood? Here Are the Facts

Padauk is native to tropical forests, some of which host the most diverse wildlife in the world. And as these forests and their biodiversity play a vital ecological role, the loss of wildlife habitat due to logging raises questions about its sustainability. So we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of padauk wood?

Illustration of a maple tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Maple Wood? Here Are the Facts

The maple family, a genus called Acer, is much more than their striking colors. The trees provide food and shelter for many birds and mammals, while maple timber is an excellent choice for furniture, music, and more. So we had to ask: How sustainable it is to buy products made out of maple?

Illustration of a Douglas fir tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Douglas Fir Wood? Here Are the Facts

Douglas fir – one of the tallest trees in the North American continent – is as impressive as it can be. The trees provide food and shelter to a wide range of mammals and beautiful wood for human activities, from constructing houses to making furniture. And even though Douglas fir trees are readily available in the US, we had to ask: How sustainable it is to buy products made out of Douglas fir?

Illustration of a black walnut tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Black Walnut Wood? Here Are the Facts

Black walnut (or American walnut) has a fine figure and quality. Its dark colour makes it a prized alternative for many tropical timbers. As walnut trees become rarer in the wild, where it provides food for many birds and mammals, we had to ask: How sustainable is it to buy products made out of black walnut?

Illustration of a mahogany tree and wood

How Sustainable Is Mahogany Wood? Here Are the Facts

Mahogany – the exotic beauty of the tropical – has been the wood of choice for high-end furniture for centuries. It is native to tropical dry and wet forests, some of which host the most diverse wildlife in the world. As these forests and their biodiversity play a vital ecological role, we had to ask: How sustainable is it to cut down mahogany for our products?

Illustration of white oak wood

How Sustainable Is White Oak Wood? Here Are the Facts

Some white oak species can live longer than six centuries, providing wildlife with plenty of food and living spaces. Their abundance, deep roots, and broad canopies also help with watershed health and climate mitigation. As white oak trees play such an important ecological role, we had to ask: How sustainable is it to cut down white oaks for our products?

Illustration of bamboo

How Sustainable Is Bamboo “Wood”? Here Are the Facts

Do you know that bamboo is stronger than steel yet super flexible? Its properties make bamboo an ideal material for durable products like furniture, flooring, and other household projects (not to mention earthquake-proof shelters). And when it comes to sustainability, bamboo is on the top of the list. So we had to ask: How sustainable is bamboo wood?