WHY WOOD?
Wood was, is, and always will be
“Wood is a monosyllabic word, but behind it lies a world of fairy tales and wonders.”
Theodor Heuss, the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, recognized that wood is the most sustainable, versatile, and best raw material our planet has to offer. This building and raw material is not only the oldest known to mankind, but also a true all-rounder. Endowed with exceptional functional properties by nature, wood is also visually appealing thanks to its unique color and grain. Wood is a versatile raw material: furniture, flooring, houses, kitchen utensils, cutting boards, children's toys, or paper— all these things can be made from wood. Due to its infinite variety, this raw material is available for every budget, every taste, and every need. Our ancestors already appreciated its special properties thousands of years ago. And since the forest is a renewable source of raw materials, wood is one of the most widely used plant products in the world. We should use it where we spend our daily lives, live, and work. This not only promotes health and well-being, but also benefits our environment. In times of increasing allergies, intolerances, environmental pollution, and toxins, it is very important to us as a wholesaler of kitchen and household goods for everyday use not to place any further strain on our environment and people. nbsp;Our top priority is an ecological and natural lifestyle.
And what are the advantages of buying wood products?
- Wood is environmentally friendly, has a good ecological balance, and neutralizes CO2
The only energy required to produce wood is sunlight. This is because wood is almost the only raw material that can be processed practically directly as it grows in nature. The processing and manufacture of wood products protects the environment: no chemical processes, no toxins, and no extremely high energy consumption are required for manufacturing. The tree only needs to be felled and sawn, and can then theoretically be used directly.
The waste products such as sawdust, wood shavings, and wood chips that are produced during production can be used, for example, in the manufacture of paper, chipboard, and fiberboard. nbsp;If a wood product needs to be disposed of at some point, it can be converted back into heat or electricity in an environmentally friendly way by burning it.
Another superpower of wood: it absorbs and stores CO2 from the atmosphere. Throughout its life, a tree absorbs CO2, converts it into oxygen, and thus makes a valuable contribution to climate protection. nbsp;When burned, for example, only as much carbon dioxide is released as the tree has stored during its lifetime. This carbon dioxide is then reabsorbed by other forest trees.
- Wood has an antibacterial effect
Wood has perfect antibacterial properties. It has a naturally porous structure and contains tannins that repel bacteria and fungi. The traditional cutting board made of real wood used by butchers is better suited than plastic or glass for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. For more information on this topic, see our guide to cutting boards.
- Wood is stable and durable
Trees thrive outdoors, resisting the harshest environmental influences and still growing tall. nbsp;Wood has a particularly high strength-to-weight ratio, making it both stable and lightweight.& Despite its low weight, wood offers high tensile and compressive strength and, when used correctly, is resistant to weathering. These properties make wood an ideal material for a wide variety of applications. nbsp;
Wood is durable: even under the worst conditions, it can last for centuries. In Venice and Amsterdam, for example, houses are built on old oak beams that withstand water and waves day after day.
- Wood is easy to dispose of
Unlike inorganic raw materials, wood is part of the natural cycle. Wood can be recycled thermally through combustion and biologically through decomposition. Has your old wooden spoon been replaced by a new one? No problem. Simply burn it in the fireplace or at the next campfire and it will almost disappear into thin air, providing light and, above all, warmth.
- Wood has a diverse appearance
Concrete, for example, can be poured into any shape, painted, or colored. But you will always see that it is concrete. Plastic can also be pressed into all kinds of structures, yet it always remains plastic. Wood, on the other hand, is almost infinitely versatile: there are a multitude of different types of wood with different colors and grains. But even if you have decided on one type of wood, each board looks different and unique. In a world where even houses can be mass-produced, wood brings individuality. And that's not the end of the list. Depending on how you process wood, you can further influence its appearance: You can stain it, glaze it, or even color it with colored varnish. This results in so many countless combination possibilities for all areas of application that it really satisfies every taste.
- Wood is versatile
Flooring, and laminate in particular, is perhaps the best-known use of wood. In recent decades, especially in Germany, wood has increasingly taken a back seat as a building material.& nbsp;However, its unique properties in terms of thermal insulation, sound and fire protection, and its positive effects on quality of life make it ideal for creating sustainable living spaces. Entire houses, huge halls, and bridges can be built from this raw material. nbsp;But even a glance around your home will give you an idea of how versatile this raw material is: tables, shelves, cutting boards, decorative items, pan holders, fruit bowls—there is hardly a household without an item made of wood.
Wood is also used for heating. Anyone who has ever sat in front of a tiled stove with a crackling fire burning inside knows how pleasant this warmth is. In fact, heating with wood is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. W
