We all have to think about sustainability. We don’t want want to deplete natural resources, but we all need to have different things. This makes working with eco-friendly materials vital to our existence and the existence of our Earth. However, many people worry that working with wood could actually cause more damage than it is worth. They want to know if it is sustainable or if we are simply causing more damage than good. Here is the truth.
Is Wood Sustainable?
There should be no doubt that wood is one of our most valuable resources. It is proven by the fact that deforestation is something we hear about often. However, there is proof that wood is very sustainable. In fact, many people say that wood should be used over concrete and steel and it would be just as durable.
We gain a lot from wood. It is under your feet, a material that keeps you warm, and more. Other benefits of wood include:
- Allowing us to reduce, reuse, and recycle. If we were to build more often with wood, we could recycle scraps rather than toss them out. We could also keep them for future projects.
- Use Renewable Resources. Wood is one of the most renewable resources we have. It does not deplete the Earth because we can replant trees. It can be grown and harvested repeatedly.
- Wood Lasts A Long Time! It may surprise people to know, but basically for as long as people have walked the Earth, wood has been something that we used for all types of things. It lasts a long time. Admittedly, there are some things that can cause it to suffer damages (fire, flood, etc.), but for the most part, once built, the item will last longer than you will.
Which Wood is Best?
If you are curious about which type of wood people feel is the most eco-friendly and which one that builders favor the most, you have a few choices. Some trees do grow quicker than others, which may make them a better choice. The fastest-growing trees are: Hybrid Poplars, Weeping Willows, Aspen, and Maple.
Beyond the wood, many woodworkers also want to use eco-friendly things to protect their wood furnishings. One great example is epoxy. When using woodworking epoxy, you are using organic plant sources to protect the wood. This makes it one of the best protective coatings available.
Love Your Wood!
Embrace the wood furniture you have at home. Create your own wood projects and discover the true beauty of wood. There are many reasons for you to do it, and we promise that you will not be damaging the world in any way. In fact, there are enough National Forests and conservation areas around the globe to protect more than 20% of the trees we have now. We will not run out anytime in the near future. As an added bonus, each year people are planting more trees where they take trees from. It is basically an endless supply if we use it responsibly.