Reclaimed wood furniture is an environmentally friendly choice that can reduce the demand on the world’s forests and rain forests.
There’s no doubt that wood furniture and furnishings are an attractive addition to any home. Yet the world’s natural forests are being destroyed by our increasing demand for timber.
Originally 46% of the Earth’s land surface was covered by forest. Today around half of these forests have already gone and only one-fifth remain completely untouched.
With global wood consumption expected to double over the next 30 years it’s important that we act now to preserve the remaining forests.
Using recycled timber rather than felling more trees for home furnishings produces environmentally friendly furniture that helps to reduce the demand on the Earth’s forests.
Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, the world’s forests are home to an amazing array of wildlife. As forests are eroded the delicately balanced eco-system they support is affected and entire species are put at risk of extinction.
Trees also play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide – a gas released when fossil fuels and wood are burned, which is responsible for contributing to the greenhouse effect and consequently global warming.
If we continue to destroy forests, the positive effects of these ‘carbon sinks’ will be reduced and the process of global warming will probably accelerate.
Reclaimed wood furniture is environmentally friendly for two reasons. It reduces the need to destroy more trees for manufacturing purposes and also reduces the amount of ‘waste’ wood that is disposed of by burning.
Illegal logging, particularly in tropical countries is compounding the problem of trying to save the rain forests. In fact some experts estimate that illegal logging comprises one tenth of the total global timber trade – equivalent to £150 billion per year.
What makes matters worse is that it is not necessarily illegal to import illegally logged wood and, according to research by Friends of the Earth, the UK tops the European table for importing illegally logged timber.
Wood is an incredibly durable resource and in centuries past reclaiming wood was common practice. It made sense to recycle timber rather than spend unnecessary time and effort in cutting down new trees.
By reclaiming and recycling wood we can reduce the demand on the world’s forests yet satisfy the growing demand for wood furniture and furnishings. In other words we can provide carefully crafted reclaimed wood furniture that doesn’t cost the earth.
If you'd like to reduce the impact your lifestyle has on the environment and yet still enjoy beautiful wood furniture in your home call us now on 01422 885 305 or fill in our online contact form. |
