Is Wood Sustainable? Everything You Need to Know

It seems so simple: trees are good for the environment, so cutting them down must be bad. But is that assumption really justified? While it’s wise that we’re now more concerned about the planet, it doesn’t hurt to take a closer look. The use of wood could play an important role in the sustainable future we strive for. In this article, we explain when the use of wood is sustainable and how it can contribute to a better world.

What Makes Wood Sustainable?

Trees absorb CO₂ from the air and use it to grow. The carbon (C) from the atmosphere is then stored in the wood. This stored carbon is released back into nature when the tree dies. During its lifetime, the tree absorbs exactly as much carbon as is released when the wood decomposes. It doesn’t matter whether the tree decomposes naturally or is burned. Burning wood simply releases the carbon more quickly, but the total amount remains the same. Trees are therefore climate-neutral, as they absorb as much CO₂ as they emit. That’s certainly a good thing, but does it also mean that wood is sustainable?

Wood in a Circular Economy

The answer is yes, wood is sustainable. But only under the condition that it is part of a circular system, also called the circular economy. This is a system in which raw materials are endlessly reused, so no waste is created. How this works can be seen in the illustration below.

Dit betekent niet dat we onbeperkt hout kunnen gebruiken zonder consequenties. Eigenlijk moet voor elke gekapte boom minstens één nieuwe boom worden geplant, zodat de cyclus weer opnieuw kan beginnen. Hout is dus uitsluitend duurzaam in een circulaire economie zoals in de bovenstaande afbeelding. In tegenstelling tot plastic kan hout oneindig hernieuwd worden zonder dat er afval of uitstoot ontstaat.

Of course, self-interest also plays a part. Wood is simply more beautiful than plastic, and that difference only becomes more apparent over time. While plastic discolors and is hard to maintain, wood gradually develops more character over time. This natural aging process is known as patina. It not only adds extra charm but also contributes to the sustainability of wood—since wooden products often remain in use for much longer because of it.

Challenges for Sustainable Wood

Deforestation

A balance between planting and cutting is therefore required to make this system work properly. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done, because the forest area on Earth is currently decreasing.

We explain more about this in our article about illegal logging.

Polluting Wood

Surprisingly, not all uses of wood are good for the environment. This is mainly due to harmful chemicals that are used. Exposure to these substances is unhealthy for both people and nature. Moreover, these chemicals create waste, which disrupts the circular economy.

Some examples:

• Engineered wood like MDF contains formaldehyde resin. This is toxic and can be released even during cutting or sanding.
• Wood paint and varnish contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Wood treated with pesticides.

The Consumer

Studies have shown that a combination of psychology and marketing causes consumers to assume too quickly that wood is sustainable. Nature benefits when more people educate themselves, just like you are doing now by reading this article. Always pay close attention to where you buy wood products and watch out for polluting wood.

Conclusion

Yes, sustainable wood definitely exists. Wood stores CO₂ and is renewable, or in this case, regrowable. Unfortunately, these benefits are lost due to mistakes made by forest managers, manufacturers, and consumers. That is why it is important for us to pay close attention. Choose products made from sustainable wood. In this way, you contribute to a healthy planet.