Wood is an incredible natural resource! We build our houses with it, it provides shade for our children to play in, we carve beautiful furniture to sit on with friends and family. There is no doubt that wood is one of those resources that we can find in so many aspects of our daily lives. That is why it is so important to consider sustainability in this field.
The best thing about wood is that it is a renewable and recyclable natural resource.
But there are definitely some woods that are more sustainable than others and there is a push towards using more sustainable alternatives, especially in furniture production. Woods like oak, which are very popular in furniture and flooring, are slow-growing and often produced just for their lower back, meaning they’re not as sustainable as fast-growing alternatives.
There is a movement towards the use of more sustainable woods in the mass production of furniture. With plenty of great alternatives available, we’re proud to select some beautiful sustainable woods in our collection. See some of the woods our artisans work with and what makes them sustainable:
1.Sheeshamwood
Sheesham wood is native to the Indian subcontinent and is also known as Indian rosewood. The Punjab region is the largest producer of Sheesham wood in Pakistan and India.
These are some of the characteristics of sheesham wood:
*Has a beautiful irregular grain structure that is very distinctive in appearance and can be polished to a fine finish.
*Wood is strong and durable, meaning it holds its shape well during handling and construction.
*Due to its strength and density, sheesham wood is also an ideal material for decorative carvings.
2. Mango wood
The popularity of mango wood has increased in recent years, largely due to the fact that it is considered a highly sustainable wood. Obviously, there is a high demand for mango fruit and once a tree is past its best fruiting years, in the past it was simply cut down.
These are some of the characteristics of mango wood:
*Dense-grained hardwood with a strong structure
*Production costs of working with mango wood are comparatively low because it is an *Has an unusual grain with a fine, cohesive texture. This means that the wood is quick and easy to finish, as it doesn’t need extensive sanding or sealing.
*In furniture production, mango wood is often stained in colors similar to teak or oak.
*Nearly 75 million tons of mangoes are produced in India each year with lots of fast growing trees cut down to make room for younger, more fruitful trees, so using mango wood helps reduce waste, improve sustainability and provide another source of income for farmers. .
3. Neem wood
Neem wood is native to India and the subcontinent and is part of the mahogany family. It is also known as Nimtree or Indian Lilac. The neem tree is an evergreen tree and is a fast growing tree that reaches heights of up to 20 meters and in rare cases can grow up to 40 meters in height. It is ready to cut for wood between 5-7 years.
These are some of the characteristics of neem wood:
*Features thick, rough, interlocking grains that make the wood very durable
*Although it is related to the mahogany family of trees, it is easy to work and carve by hand or machine.
*The neem tree is known for its resistance to drought and is often used for shade
* It has many other uses, including traditional medicine: Siddha and Ayurveda practitioners use neem products, especially to treat skin conditions; neem is used as a natural alternative to pesticides; the oil is used in cosmetics such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste; and for centuries neem twigs have been used as toothbrushes. The stick is first chewed like a toothbrush and then broken up and used as a tongue cleaner. great hello!
