There’s a growing realization among us woodworkers that some of the practices that we have engaged in over the years have not been particularly friendly to our environment. Most notably these practices include the use of rare hardwoods that are non-sustainably harvested from our ever depleting rainforests and the use of petroleum based finishes that can be extremely toxic in nature.

We at Custom Furniture Online want to help change all that. We are moving away from the use of these rare hardwoods and more toward the use of sustainably grown woods that can be certified as such. Many countries in the equatorial regions where exotic hardwoods are grown are beginning to incorporate forest management techniques that will yield a continuous supply of hardwood lumber through sound replanting and reforestation practices. The Forestry Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org) has been instrumental in promoting the recognition of the critical links between forests and climate change.

A prime example of responsible harvesting is the Teak that we use if someone requests that their furniture be made from this beautiful, exotic wood. Our Teak is grown in Myanmar, where for years the government has focused on the use of plantation grown wood along with its environmentally sensitive forestry practices such as the use of elephants rather than heavy machinery in extracting logs from the forests.

Another area that we are very concerned about is the high percentage of Volatile Organic Compounds in the finishes that many woodworkers use. Here at Custom Furniture Online, we strive to use finishes with a low VOC content as much as possible. Many states have regulated the use of petroleum based finishes, which in turn has fostered the use of water base lacquers and other natural hand-rubbed oils. For an excellent source for these products, go to: www.environmentalhomecenter.com/home.shtm.

Finally, in an effort to help us offset our use of the precious resources used in furniture making, we encourage you all to help us support the Arbor Day Foundation at: www.arborday.org. The mission of this wonderful nonprofit group is to promote the education of, and the planting of trees throughout the United States. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of each piece of furniture from Custom Furniture Online goes to help support this worthy organization.

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