| Sustainable wood products like FSC Ipe are gaining | | | | installing a floor, or building a brand new home using |
| increased attention from homeowners and the | | | | green building construction techniques and eco-friendly |
| business community. Learn why you should use FSC | | | | wood and materials, knowing the truth behind the |
| ipe for your next eco flooring, decking, or any other | | | | claims will let you have peace of mind when |
| home improvement project. Environmentalists and | | | | you’re spending your hard earned money. In |
| eco-savvy shoppers who are looking to add a sense | | | | addition, don’t fall for the lies that composite |
| of flair to their homes may want to do some more | | | | decking companies tell when they say that |
| research into sustainable woods. Truth is, despite all | | | | they’re products are truly eco-friendly. Why? |
| the misinformation that is paid for by composite | | | | All you have to do is research composite decking |
| decking companies, there is hardwood decking and | | | | problems or composite decking recalls and |
| hardwood flooring options out there that are | | | | you’ll see that composite decking is an inferior |
| eco-friendly. Many people have heard about FSC ipe, | | | | product. But, while that alone doesn’t make it |
| FSC decking and FSC flooring, In fact, with the | | | | non-eco-friendly, all you have to do is think of the |
| Forest Stewardship Council and the United States | | | | bigger picture. If a composite deck is made of |
| Green Building Council promoting the use of | | | | recycled plastics and wood fibers, the overall |
| sustainable and certified woods for use in green | | | | strength and resiliency of the deck is suspect and, |
| building projects, there is even more attention being | | | | it’s reasonable to conclude, weak. If, after a |
| paid to how wood is used and where it comes from. | | | | couple of years, you have to replace some deck |
| But, what makes wood like FSC Ipe sustainable? | | | | boards, or replace the entire deck itself because of |
| There are many reasons why FSC certified woods | | | | maintenance issues, you will not only waste money, |
| like ipe are sustainable. The process of becoming a | | | | but also materials. All this waste is not good for the |
| certified FSC wood is a stringent one and there are | | | | environment. However, if you built a hardwood deck |
| many regulations and people out there that actually | | | | with FSC ipe, you can rest assured that your deck |
| monitor how ipe wood is both cultivated and | | | | will require no maintenance and will last for decades |
| harvested. For instance, it’s a common | | | | safely. |
| practice for FSC Chain of Custody companies to | | | | By researching and buying FSC certified products like |
| oversee the process from planting a seed, to milling | | | | FSC ipe decking, or FSC ipe flooring, or any other |
| the lumber, to shipping the ipe decking to your job | | | | FSC wood or eco flooring product, we can show the |
| site. In addition, it’s also common for the | | | | marketplace that the demand for sustainable wood is |
| Forest Stewardship Council to tell a lumber company, | | | | real and not just a fad. After all, with the |
| In order to harvest this FSC ipe, you will need to | | | | environment becoming a huge focus for the |
| plant tigerwood, cumaru, and some garapa in these | | | | world’s economy and its population, the use |
| designated areas. This way, there is overall | | | | of both renewable and non-renewable materials |
| ecological balance is maintained and strengthened. | | | | continues to be put under the microscope. Indeed, |
| Here are some other unique ways FSC ipe is | | | | this is another reason why worldwide and local |
| sustainable: | | | | organizations like the FSC and the United States |
| Can be harvested from fallen or dead trees | | | | Green Building Council exist and why we should all |
| Is also harvested from ipe trees that no longer | | | | endorse their efforts by buying these eco-friendly |
| produce seeds | | | | and sustainable wood products. Now, more than |
| Planting five new trees for every one that has | | | | ever, it’s critical that we all do our part to |
| been cut | | | | ensure that the wood products we use really do |
| Selective logging and planting to maintain a | | | | come from managed forests that practice sustainable |
| balance that does not lead to deforestation | | | | forestry practices. |
| Whether you’re thinking of building a deck, | | | | |