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Wood furniture is a beautiful way to bring the natural world inside, and, when managed correctly, wood is a wonderfully renewable resource that can live on in your family, as furniture, for generations to come. But there are some environmental, health, and social considerations to keep in mind when you're on the lookout for wood furniture; we'll start with some of the environmental problems, and some solutions you can use.
The U.S. leads the way in wood consumption, representing almost one third of the global wood-buying market. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the world's wood needs could be met by just 20 percent of the earth's forests, as long as these forests are managed correctly. Yet, almost half of the world's original forests have been chopped down (approximately 7.4 billion acres), and 39.5 million acres, on average are added to the loss column each year.
1. Look for the FSC logo
To insure that your furnishings don't contribute to deforestation, look for wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international nonprofit organization whose principles cover environmental, social, and economic criteria, with certain requirements specially-tailored to the specific needs of each regional ecosystem. That means wood stamped with the FSC logo has been sustainably-managed, hasn't contributed to biodiversity or habitat loss, hasn't exploited workers who manage and harvest the wood, and has positively contributed to the local economy. Read more about the FSC in TreeHugger's interview with Chief Operating Officer Ned Daly.
2. Search for "recycled" or "reclaimed" woods
By finding wood that's from demolition landfills, deconstruction projects, or even underwater, you don't put pressure on standing forests, and you give a second (or third...or fourth) life to something that's already served a previous function, doesn't require any new materials, and might even free up space in the landfill. Your best bet is to look for the "SmartWood Rediscovered" label, which signifies it has been certified by the "Rediscovered Wood" initiative of the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program. But you can also keep your eyes out for demolition sales and check out your local salvage yards and other reclaimed building materials sources near you.
3. Keep your eyes peeled for "secondary species"
These woods--such as sweetgum, madrone, and California oak--are often readily available but are not as well known; in many cases, they're of equal or better quality than their more popular brethren. These so-called "secondary species" are named so because they're often harvested so that other species, such as mahogany, can regenerate naturally. By purchasing products made with secondary species, you take pressure off of overused species of wood and help encourage more complex, diverse forest ecosystems instead of monocultural timber plantations.
Stay tuned for more on the health and social-related issues with wood furniture; in the mean time, read up on finding refurbished furniture and restoring thrift and second-hand furniture.
Difficulty level: Moderate
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