International Wood International Wood 2008 | Page 39

SUSTAINABILIT Y IS KEY
When choosing species for the Original Penguin project, designers
were concerned about “their store being picketed for using woods
cut from the rainforests,” says Sagrillo. “That’s a challenge you
might face using almost any kind of exotic wood. No matter how
well it’s maintained, or how responsible the grower is, some people
automatically think that if it’s a wood that they don’t recognize as
being domestically grown, then it must have been clear-cut from a
rainforest in Brazil.
“The fact is, and what we have to communicate better to our cus-
tomers, a lot of the veneers available out there today are responsibly
harvested, and they’re not hard to find. We know the veneers used
in the Original Penguin project were sustainably harvested, even
though it’s not FSC certified.”
HCM is proactive when discussing sustainability issues with
its customers. The company does its own background research to
ensure its suppliers are operating responsibly, that the wood is le-
gally purchased on the market, and that it’s coming from sustainable
forests.
“We have to know this before we’ll agree to buy the wood or do
a project, because just like with our customers, our reputation is on
the line,” says Sagrillo. “We have several vendors that we’ve worked
with for years and with whom we have a lot of trust.
“High Country is all about being on the cutting edge of design
and material use while still being socially and ecologically respon-
sible. You can be both – they’re not mutually exclusive.” iw
Helpful
H int s
1. Imported wood does not have to be FSC certified to
be considered a sustainable wood. There are other
methods for documenting and assuring that it was
harvested sustainably and legally purchased.
2. While the characteristics of many exotic woods and
veneers are best emphasized without staining, a light
stain can reduce the contrast between light and dark
areas of woods such as zebrano and Makassar ebony.
3. High-character imported veneers are being specified
as beautiful accents to solid colors and more common
wood grains.
4. Imported plywood is often a better choice for structural
components because of its strength, lower weight and
overall value. n
Modern wood products for sustainable living
Softwood for innovative building construction or hardwood for creative interior design – wood
materials are a permanent trend.
Modern wood products are widely applicable, meet the highest technical standards, are cost efficient
and provide aesthetic appeal. The unique advantages of a renewable, environment and climate friendly
resource from sustainably managed forests can only be found in the world of wood.
www.germantimber.com
080630_GT_Anz_1_2_ImportedWood.i1 1
02.07.2008 16:00:04 Uhr
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