Rapidly Renewable Or Certified Woods

"No material brings nature indoors better than wood. At the same time, almost half of the world's original forests have been cut down (approximately 7.4 billion acres), and an average of 39.5 million acres are added to the loss column each year. The destruction of forests releases tons of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas and culprit behind global climate change, into the Earth's atmosphere. Deforestation also reduces the diversity of plant and animal species in these rich habitats.

"The U.S. leads the way in wood consumption, representing almost one third of the global wood-buying market. According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, the world's wood needs could be met by one fifth of the earth's forests if these forests are managed correctly."

Source: The National Geographic Green Guide

Renewable Timber Products

Durapalm

Made from the wood of coconut trees that have outlived their coconut producing lifetimes. In the past, this wood was considered waste but is now being repurposed for construction.

Plyboo

Plywood made from bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource. Made by boiling bamboo strips and laminating them together.

FSC Certified wood

The Forest Stewardship Council sets the standard for sustainable forestry certification. "The FSC certification principles cover environmental, social and economic criteria, with certain requirements tailored to the specific needs of each regional ecosystem. Those forest operations that meet the criteria are allowed to display the FSC label on their wood. Wood products, such as furniture, made with FSC-certified wood may also carry the FSC label, if the company can prove to auditors that the item was indeed produced with FSC-certified wood. When you buy an FSC-certified product, you can find out exactly where the wood was harvested, and a report for each certified logging operation is available to the public.

The FSC is governed by representatives of environmental organizations, the forest industry and social groups from over 60 countries around the world. Widely viewed as the most independent and credible global forest certification system, the FSC is backed by groups such as Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club and the Rainforest Action Network." Source: National Geographic Green Guide

Rainforest Alliance has compiled a Google Map listing suppliers of FSC products in large quantities. Smaller quantities can be sourced from mainstream retail outlets such as Home Depot and Lowe's.

Recovered Wood

Rainforest Alliance has a certification program for recovered wood products. Their program is certified by the FSC. The purpose of the recovered wood program is to: acknowledge good practices for the recovery, recycling, and reuse of wood products through credible independent certification of the wood recovery practices as well as tracking of the products. Wood recovery is a new and growing industry that is developing due to rising timber prices, diminishing space in landfills, and specialty markets for antique woods. With the world's current demand for forest products, deforestation and forest degradation pressures are ever increasing. It is important to develop and encourage the use of already-existing wood products that would otherwise go to landfills, thereby displacing the need to harvest virgin woods. For instance, an old warehouse with one million board feet of reusable lumber can offset the need to harvest one thousand acres of forest."

Recovered wood products include:

• wood by-products from secondary manufacturers (by-products from primary manufacturers do not qualify)
• post-consumer recycled wood and wood fiber (e.g., used pallets)
• dead, fallen, diseased, or nuisance trees from (sub)urban private and government properties
• orchards where unproductive trees are cut for replacement
• deconstruction projects for antiquated buildings, railroads, etc.
• wood recovered from demolition landfills
• logs and trees recovered from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs (e.g., underwater salvage)

Source: Rainforest Alliance Rediscovered Wood Certification

Other Useful Links

• Rainforest Alliance: A Smart Guide to Green Building Wood Sources
• Rainforest Alliance: A Smart Guide to Sustainable Furniter & FSC-Certified Products
• Rainforest Alliance Rediscovered Wood Program Description

Related Articles

• Recycled Paper And Other Biofibers

• Eco Textiles

• Formaldehyde Free Substrates

• Low or No VOC Adhesives

• Recycled Plastics and Glass

• Bio Based Plastics

• Reycled Metals

• Carpet and Flooring

[originally published at GreenDesignWiki.com]