According to independent researchers, between 3.5 and 7 billion trees are cut down each year. At an area the size of Costa Rica, this sort of rate is far too high to be considered sustainable. Some of the trees being cut down will take a decade or so to grow back, but this is too long to offset what we’re using. One of the largest markets for wood is in the retail sector, with companies selling wood products to consumers.
Â
Recycled
Vs. Timber
Of course, most people are well-aware of the crisis the world is facing when it comes to the resources we use. But, not a lot of people know that there are suitable alternatives for the damaging items they use. When it comes to wood, there are loads of options, with companies working hard to produce items which look and feel like natural wood. At this point, a lot of recycled wood options are actually stronger than their natural timber competitors. Along with this, they are lighter and more hard wearing, required less work to maintain. On top of all of these benefits, recycled wood is often cheaper, too.
There are quite a few different methods you can use to recycle wood. Depending on the company making the new product, the donor wood will be prepared using a variety of different processes. In most cases, the wood will be ground or shredded, and then compressed with glue or adhesive to bond it all together. Because this process involves moulding the new wood, it can be made into a wide range of different shapes.
Â
 (Image Link)
Product
Options
A lot of people struggle to buy into recycled wood because they don’t know where to get it or what it can be used to replace. To help you out with this, below you’ll find some of the best products which can be made from this sort of wood.
Outdoor areas are the perfect candidate for a touch of recycled wood. Using an option with a fully-sealed recycled plastic coating, you can have an outdoor space which looks natural without any of the effort. There are loads of sustainable building materials like this. Finding the right ones for your home could see it covered in recycled wood, without losing the rustic or modern charm you used to have.
People are becoming less concerned with having solid wood as the main material choice for their furniture. As stores like Ikea become very popular, recycled wood tables and chairs have a chance to break into the market. This sort of furniture is often very clean in appearance and can be altered to meet your colour needs.
Wood is often used for the work surfaces in modern kitchens. Most of the time, options like this will look beautiful, giving you the chance to have a great kitchen. But, along with looking good, they also have a severe environmental impact. Instead, a
recycled option will look just as nice, and will even give you more flexibility.
recycled option will look just as nice, and will even give you more flexibility.
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking into recycled wood options for your home. Of course, if you already have wood, there’s no need to replace it. But, for future work, you should always keep recycled materials in mind.
Contributed by Sarah.
I hope you have some time, I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment to say how much you enjoyed my post or even say hi, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram page or even subscribe. I will do the same! Have a wonderfully creative week!