When we started this business in 1985, we wanted to be sure
that the wood species we chose was the very best for use in furnishings for
high-traffic public spaces. We needed to
know density, durability, strength, stiffness, hardness, and much more. Surprisingly, our research of published
technical information found a significant amount of inconsistent and incorrect
data. The U.S. Forest Service Laboratory
in Madison, Wisconsin was, and continues to be, a great resource for
information on both domestic and imported wood.
In addition to choosing wood species based on technical
data, we wanted to address the environmental issues. The controversy surrounding sustained yield
forestry practices was just beginning in 1985.
Factual information was not always readily available. Trusted lumber industry sources and groups
like The Sierra Club and Rain Forest Action Network gave us guidance in the early
years.
Over time, our own experience has made us second to none in
technical wood knowledge, and information from third party verification
services provided direction on environmental issues.
Today, however, the “facts” about sustainable lumber harvest
practices are more difficult to ascertain.
There is competition between environmental groups, there is competition
between third party verifiers, and there is dishonesty from some in the
tropical hardwood business. Consider
these statements from a recent article published by Greenpeace:
“The truth is
that there are many people who are buying Ipe from
Brazil which they
believe has been legally logged, but who
may be actually
getting something that has, for lack of a better
term, been
laundered”.
“Several sellers
also prominently display the FSC chain of custody
certification logo
on their websites and marketing materials,
even though a
substantial portion of the products they sell are not
FSC certified”.
“Given the high
incidence of illegality in the Amazon timber sector,
it is very
likely that U.S. purchases of Brazilian timber have been
and continue to
be in violation of U.S. law”.
So, what do we do?
What do we believe? This is as
difficult for those of us in manufacturing as it is for those of you who are
specifying or buying tropical hardwood products.
One of the main uses of tropical hardwood in the U.S. is for
decking and boardwalks. Fortunately,
there are some composite materials available as a substitute for tropical
hardwood decking. Some of these
composite products are soft by comparison and are only acceptable for
residential use, but we have found one that compares in density and structural
characteristics to Ipe hardwood. It is
called XTR, and you can learn more about it on our website under “Decking”.
