7 Reasons Why Wood is The Sustainable Material You Need in Your Home

It's environmentally-friendly and good for your mental health.

By Roshina Jowaheer, House Beautiful

As more people make greener choices with their lifestyles and find new ways to reduce their carbon footprint, creating a home that is environmentally friendly is high on the list for those redecorating. This, coupled with wood being one of the biggest trending materials of the year, makes it easy to see exactly why wood is a natural choice for homeowners. 

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While there can be a major environmental impact on choosing wood over other materials if it is not sustainably sourced (be sure to check for FSC certification), there are numerous reasons why wooden doors, floors and furnishings are an eco-friendly option. From retaining heat to having a positive effect on our mental health, there are many benefits to bringing wood into your home.

With the help of a few experts including wooden flooring specialist A Wood Idea, the Forestry Commission and the British Woodworking Federation, we’ve rounded up the best reasons why you should love wood…



1

It’s a renewable material

Wood is known to be one of the most naturally renewable energy sources, which means it will have less of an impact on the environment compared to other materials. According to the British Woodworking Federation, over 90 per cent of the wood we use in the UK is from forests in Europe, which are growing by 661,000 hectares each year. This shows that it’s a readily-available resource which we’re not going to run out of anytime soon.



2

It lasts a long time

[post_ads]A wide variety of factors affect how long a wooden product lasts, including the type of wood, the location of the product (interior or exterior environments) and the treatment that has been applied to it. Generally, wood is lightweight, but also strong and durable. As Iain Smith, managing director of A Wood Idea puts it: "When treated correctly, hardwood doors and floors, for instance, can last longer than a lifetime – some over 100 years. The longer wood lasts, the less energy is used on the production of new products, which in turn makes it better for the environment."



3

It can be recycled and reused

With wood lasting a lifetime, it’s the ideal material for recycling. "Using recycled wood keeps the carbon footprint very low and means limiting the use of freshly-milled timber and negating importing costs, while preserving our natural timber resources for future use,’ says Ruth Adams, co-founder of reclaimed furniture company Rust Collections. ‘Reusing salvaged wood means less materials being sent to landfill or being burned, both of which pollute the environment. And, of course, the other benefit is that reclaimed wood furniture is full of character and raw, rustic charm that only time-worn timber can provide."



4

It absorbs carbon dioxide

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which lowers the overall carbon footprint of wood. As a 'carbon store', once wood absorbs CO2, it is stored there and remains out of the atmosphere. Iain McIlwee, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation, says: "Wood is the only truly sustainable building material and for every cubic metre of wood used in construction, approximately one tonne of carbon dioxide is saved. Choosing wood can really make a difference when considering carbon storage. For example, through research conducted by the Wood Window Alliance, we know that 160kg of CO2 is saved in every wood window chosen instead of PVCu."

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5

It’s great at retaining heat

"The cellular makeup of wood means that it naturally retains heat more effectively than other materials – in fact, it holds seven times more heat than ceramic tiles," says A Wood Idea’s Iain Smith. Air chambers within the wood itself absorb heat and create a naturally warmer home that requires less energy to heat it, which is kinder to the environment.



6

Its waste is 100% biodegradable

There is very little waste when wooden products are made, whether it’s floorboards, doors or windows, and any residual chippings can be burned as an energy source or used as sawdust during manufacture. The Forestry Commission says: "There is no waste in timber production. For example, offcuts and by-products from wood processing industries like furniture-making can be used to create chipboard and generate renewable heat and energy."

The waste that is produced is 100 per cent biodegradable, meaning that it eventually decomposes and breaks down back into earth, making it better for the environment.

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7

It has a positive effect on your physical and mental health

Research has shown that reducing the amount of man-made materials and introducing natural alternatives, such as wood, lowers stress and anxiety levels when you're at home. Marjut Wallenius, a doctor of psychology at the University of Tampere, says: "Wood has psychological effects on people and a similar stress-reducing effect to nature." She adds that studies carried out so far have revealed that wood has a calming effect: "This is based on the positive emotional experience that wood causes, such as proximity to nature, warmth, homeliness and a relaxing effect."


See more at: House Beautiful