Why is Urban and Rescued Wood a more sustainable choice than Reclaimed?

Devin and Brent have found their adult playground on what is the largest documented rescued Pecan tree. Unfortunately, the application to the Guinness Book of World Records was denied as a new category (Yes, seriously). Sharing the history found within this tree as various forms of furniture offers an innovative climate smart solution while the final product has unmatched beauty and appeal.

benefits to using urban and rescued wood vs reclaimed wood

PREFACE: Reclaimed lumber is a very sustainable material, especially when processed locally, as it helps conserve natural resources, reduce waste, and minimize energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with new lumber production. This article is focused on exploring the proposed benefits of urban and rescued wood compared to reclaimed wood. Understand the differences between urban, rescued, reclaimed and salvaged wood in this ARTICLE.

1. Local availability:

   Urban wood is most often produced locally from locally rescued trees, which means that transportation emissions can be minimized compared to reclaimed wood, which is often shipped for secondary processing and end good manufacturing to other regions of the United States. Due to the high transportation costs of logs, most urban sawmills rescue and process their lumber and products within a 250 mile radius. While reclaimed wood can be processed locally, rescued wood production tends to be hyper-local.

2. Higher quality:

   Urban wood harvested from trees that have been properly maintained and cared for, which can result in higher quality wood with fewer defects. Additionally, there are typically a much larger variety of rescued tree species available allowing for a wider range of use applications.

3. Greater potential supply:

   Urban wood can come from both community and rural trees, which are maintained and replaced regularly, and can be a more reliable supply source compared to reclaimed wood, which can be limited in availability. Reclaimed lumber is sourced from demolition sites or old structures, and the quality and quantity of usable wood may be variable. Falled, dead, hazard prone or diseased trees are in an overabundance across North America. In fact, the State of Texas alone lost over 300 million trees in a single year due to a singular cause, drought.

4. safer and chemical free:

   Some reclaimed lumber is exposed to various contaminants, such as lead, asbestos, or mold, which can cause health problems if not handled properly. These contaminants can be introduced into the environment when the wood is cut, sanded, or burned. Reclaimed lumber may have been treated with chemicals or preservatives, such as creosote, pentachlorophenol, or chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which can pose a health hazard. These chemicals can be harmful if inhaled or ingested and may also release toxins into the environment during disposal. Urban and rescued wood come directly from trees with an extreme remote chance of toxic chemical exposure.

5. Fewer Physical hazards:

   Reclaimed lumber is more difficult to work with compared to urban lumber because it contains far more nails, screws, or other metal pieces that can damage saw blades or cause injury if they become projectiles while cutting. Urban lumber tends to have fewer potential hazards because it is sourced from trees that are grown in a natural environment free of contaminants and chemicals that can be present in reclaimed lumber. Additionally, urban trees are usually harvested by a trained crew that can assess the structural integrity of each tree, reducing the risk of physical hazards during sawing or processing.

6. Minimize waste & Save Energy:

   By using urban and rescued wood, we can minimize waste and promote sustainability by repurposing trees that might be otherwise discarded. Urban lumber requires less energy to produce than reclaimed lumber since it does not require the extensive processing that reclaimed lumber goes through and it tends to be hyper-local. Reclaimed lumber, on the other hand, involves labor-intensive and time-consuming processes such as deconstruction, cleaning, and processing in a mill. Additionally, reclaimed lumber has limited availability, both in terms of quantity and type of wood species, which can make it more difficult to work with and result in higher costs.

This amazing two-piece bookmatched table was produced from an unusually large Texas mesquite tree. Furniture produced from locally rescued trees offer unmatched beauty, quality, and durability. Natural products made directly from our fallen and diseased trees, often rescued within 100 miles of processors.

Conclusion

While reclaimed wood remains a viable option for sustainable building materials, urban and rescued wood provides a reliable and locally-sourced alternative that promotes sustainability, is naturally chemical free, reduces environmental impact and helps minimize waste. Not only does rescued wood come from trees located in or near urban areas, thereby reducing transportation emissions and waste, but it is also typically of higher quality, easier to source, and more efficient to process than reclaimed wood. As such, urban and rescued wood should be considered as a highly sustainable alternative for individuals, builders, designers and architects looking to make climate smart choices when it comes to their building projects and ESG goals.