Benefits of Reclaimed Wood: Landfill – Salvage - Repurpose
Stats: Only a few percent of construction products in new projects are reclaimed materials.
Mixed with other waste in a landfill wood doesn’t always decompose quickly.
Sources for Reclaimed Wood – Barnwood, Old Homes ready for Demo, Furniture, and Fallen Timber.
Benefits of only 30 trees:
· 30 trees can absorb 946 LB of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.
· 30 trees are enough oxygen for 120 people everyday
· 30 trees have the same cooling effect as “300” air conditioning units running for 20 hours each.
Aesthetic benefits of reclaimed wood: Older wood planks are wider than modern day plank flooring. Why? The trees of today are sadly cut down much faster than trees of past. Hence, less maturity and less width.
Other benefits: less likely to warp because the older wood is much denser. It has been dried out for so long it will not expand and contract as less mature wood would.
Make sure the wood is FSC Certified if it is not reclaimed. “They approve timber processed and produced in an environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate and viable way.”
Under the FSC forests have to observe the following rules:
· Only harvest what will grow back
· Protect biodiversity and endangered species
· Preserve rare and ancient trees
· Guard local streams
· Support indigenous peoples
· Use narrow skidding trails so as to ensure minimal disruption of the forest.
· Ban replacement by tree plantations
· Ban toxic chemicals and genetically modified trees.
Like any big industry – Chemicals, Oil, Pharma, Timber there are many lobbyist and groups securing government cooperation to not always do the right thing. As a result, it is ever important to pay attention to the labels/certifications because this is what moves the industry in a more sustainable direction. The only way the industry will change is if the demand shifts toward the more environmentally friendly timber.
Be Well with the more you know in 2019,
KIM
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