Is teak wood sustainable?
So far we have talked about coconut and bamboo and given you plenty of reasons to love it as much as we do.
Today we are coming with the third and a bit more controversial material (we use to make our products with), teak.
What do you need to know about it?
- Teak is a tropical wood native to South and Southeast Asia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma.
- Its name is actually Tectona grandis and it grows over 130 feet tall.
- It tends to be golden or medium brown and its colour darkens over time.
- Over the last few years, most countries have restricted logging to control deforestation.
What makes teak the perfect wood?
- It’s water resistant and extremely durable
- Teak has a high oil content, giving it the highest level of decay-resistance among all natural wood products.
- It doesn’t crack or turn black. On top of that, it’s termite resistant!
Is teak sustainable?
On the one hand, teak is one of the most durable woods that exist, which means that having teak furniture at home could be one of the most sustainable options as you won’t have to replace it any time soon or have to worry about cracks.
On the other hand, finding sustainable, legally sourced teak, can be a challenge. Some countries still export it illegally making it difficult for the consumer to distinguish. Always check for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificate
Currently only one kind of teak is legal, called “common teak”. If you purchase furniture made from common teak plantations, it can be considered environmentally friendly as it has an extremely long life time. Many companies buy their teak from sustainably managed plantations, as it is harder to guarantee sustainable practices if you purchase so called ‘natural’ teak, found in any forest without regulations in place.
At Be ALAM we REUSE teak. Yes, you heard that right.
