What is Urban, Rescued, Salvaged, and Reclaimed Wood?
Devin Ginther preparing to load this pair of rescued Texas Pecan boules with natural edge slabs into the kiln. This urban wood lumber was produced from a series of rescued Texas Pecan trees that fell victim to Hurricane Harvey near Goliad, TX in 2017.
Why it Benefits you, your Environment and the Local CommunitY?
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves utilizing resources in a way that preserves their availability for the long term and prevents the depletion and degradation of natural resources. Sustainable practices aim to minimize the negative impact of human activities on the environment by creating a balance between economic, social, and environmental considerations.
Climate change refers to the changes in the Earth’s climate system caused by human activities, specifically the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and methane, which trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and cause temperatures to rise. Climate change leads to consequences such as sea-level rise, heatwaves, wildfires, and other extreme weather events that harm biodiversity, food systems, and human life and wellbeing.
Urban, rescued, salvaged, and reclaimed woods are all “climate-smart” or “carbon-smart” wood products that can help combat climate change while being highly sustainable alternatives to traditional timber and lumber products.
The importance of sustainability and climate lies in the fact that human activities have a substantial impact on the environment and our future. We all share a responsibility to protect the natural environment, foster sustainable practices, and take proactive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. Sustainability and climate change are critical global issues that require collective action from individuals, businesses, and governments to create a positive impact on the planet and guarantee a sustainable future for all.
How can you make an impact?
There are many ways in which people can get involved in creating a sustainable future and mitigating the effects of climate change. Here are some practical steps that individuals can take:
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle: Conserving resources by reducing our consumption, reusing products, and recycling materials helps to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. However, reducing our consumption should be prioritized as it is the most effective of the three, and is a fundamental principle of sustainability.
Reduce Energy Consumption: This can be accomplished by using energy-efficient appliances, adjusting heating and cooling practices, and using alternative transportation methods.
Support Sustainable Practices and Products: Support local businesses that promote sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. Consider using eco-friendly products, such as energy-saving light bulbs, reusable bags or water bottles, and biodegradable products. Consider purchasing locally-sourced urban wood, rescued wood or reclaimed wood products. Do your best to avoid traditional forms of mass-produced and globally sourced wood products found in almost every corner of the planet today (sadly).
NOTE: For more details about the future of sustainability and making a personal impact, please our blog article titled: “A More Sustainable Future: The Principles and Benefits of the Circular Economy”.
what is Urban Wood?
Sarah & Devin Ginther to get the chance to see into the “soul” of some of the oldest and most historical trees found in Texas.
Urban wood is derived from trees grown in our community and urban areas such as backyards, parks, and street plantings. When trees are pruned or taken down for reasons such as disease, damage, or expansion, they can be processed into the most highly sustainable form of lumber available today. Using urban wood minimizes waste and reduces the need to rely on raw materials extracted from forests. The monetary value found within our rescued trees can even be used to fund the growth of our future tree canopies and fight further against climate as a circular approach. NOTE: Please check out our Blog Article titled: “Focused on Sustainability: What is Full Circle Forestry?”
Trees in urban areas absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, playing a critical role in reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. When urban trees are removed, the carbon stored in the wood remains locked away from the atmosphere. By turning this wood into usable lumber, urban wood products can then store carbon for an extended period, extending the life of the trees and reducing the carbon footprint of new wood products.
Moreover, using urban wood for building and furniture design supports local economies and reduces the need for raw materials extracted from forests, which leads to the reduction of deforestation rates. Buying local means that goods don't have to travel as far to reach you, which reduces the amount of emissions produced during transportation. By promoting the use of urban wood products, we can further support the preservation of forests and promote a more sustainable future for generations to come.
The use of urban wood supports local communities by generating income for arborists, sawyers, and woodworkers. It also promotes the importance of urban forests by highlighting the beauty and value of trees in urban landscapes. Urban wood combats climate change because it helps to offset the carbon footprint caused by the process of extracting, processing, and transporting wood from traditional sources. Urban wood is derived from trees that have already grown in urban areas, significantly reducing the carbon emissions and transportation costs associated with traditional wood sourcing.
The use of urban wood is an eco-friendly and innovative way to promote sustainability and offset carbon emissions. By using urban wood for building and furniture design, we are reducing the carbon footprint of traditional wood sourcing, supporting local businesses, and preserving the environment.
what is salvaged Wood? What is Rescued WooD? are they the same?
Haven is working to rescue this older growth Shumard Oak from a central Austin house. This log is “rescued wood” which will be processed to become “urban wood” or “urban lumber”.
Salvaged wood and rescued wood are traditionally largely generic terms that describe a wide category of highly sustainable wood types. These generic categories of wood types include, but are not limited to, the following: urban wood, sinker wood, beetle kill wood, wine barrel wood, deconstructed wood, reclaimed wood, pallet wood, and barnwood.
At the Texas Urban Sawmill, we strive to contribute to standardized industry term and definitions. We define “rescued wood” as:
“Rescued wood is wood recovered from fallen or dead trees due to natural causes such as storms or disease.”
This climate-smart or carbon-smart wood can be processed into usable or sellable lumber, also called “urban wood” or “urban lumber”. We use the terms of urban wood and rescued wood synonmously. However, “salvaged wood” is NOT urban or rescued wood. Salvaged wood comes directly from the act of salvaging. Humans historically have salvaged ships, just like we salvage buildings today. Salvaging and processing this material produces reclaimed wood (see below).
In comparison, we rescue trees today just like many volunteers across the world have rescued animals. Think about it logically, do we salvage living creatives? Do we salvage the remains of humans?
After many discussions with key opinion leaders across the industry, we further define “rescued wood” as:
“Rescued wood comes from living, breathing plants while salvaged wood comes from man-made structures and materials.”
Using urban or rescued wood benefits the environment by preventing the trees from decomposing and releasing harmful gases that contribute to climate change. Rescued wood can be used to support natural habitats and foster biodiversity while providing supplemental income for local communities. It is a sustainable alternative to traditional and reclaimed wood products and promotes the importance of protecting natural resources and ecosystems. For a further explanation, please read our blog article titled “Why is Urban and Rescued Wood a more sustainable choice than Reclaimed Wood?”.
what is Reclaimed Wood
Brent is in awe of this beautiful Texas Pecan surrounding by an older Austin State Hospital building. Material salvaged from this deconstructed building is a perfect example of “reclaimed wood” while the wood produced from the pecan tree is “urban or rescued wood”.
Reclaimed wood refers to wood that has already served its primary purpose and is a secondary material or a by-product from SALVAGING efforts. Common sources of reclaimed wood include the following: all buildings, construction sites, deconstruction sites, bridges, furniture, landfills and many other manufactured wood products or structures. Using reclaimed or deconstructed wood reduces waste and conserves resources by preventing the felling and removal of large tracts of forests and maintaining the stored carbon. Reclaimed and salvaged woods are also climate-smart wood products that maintain carbon sequestration.
Reclaimed wood is unique in that it has already withstood the test of time and has character that can't be replicated in new wood. Using this type of wood adds an element of history and a story to any construction or furniture project, enhancing its value. Reclaimed wood has a few disadvantages compared to urban and rescued wood, we explore this in a blog article. NOTE: Please see our blog article titled “Why Urban and Rescued Wood is better and more sustainable than Reclaimed and Salvaged Wood?”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, urban, salvage, and rescued wood offer numerous benefits to the environment and to local communities. The use of these materials conserves natural resources and promotes sustainability in the construction and furniture industries. Additionally, using these materials supports local economies by generating income for arborists, sawyers, and woodworkers.
These materials also provide character, history, and a unique story to any construction or furniture project. Embracing sustainable practices, such as the use of urban, salvage, and rescued wood, can create a positive impact on our planet and local communities. Let us all work towards promoting the use of urban, rescued and salvaged wood products in our daily lives to make a positive impact on the planet.
