5 Simple Tips to Make Your Woodworking Projects More Eco-Friendly
Woodworking is a curious paradox that both contributes to and counteracts climate change.
On one hand, woodworking provides demand for deforestation and the usage of toxic chemicals. On the other hand, woodworking promotes the creation of projects that are far superior to those from the “fast-furniture” industry and thus results in a smaller overall carbon footprint for the lifetime of a piece of furniture or art.
Luckily, it’s easy to make woodworking a very sustainable activity. Let’s take a look at five simple tips you should keep in mind to keep your next woodworking project eco-friendly.
1. Buy sustainable, reclaimed, or locally-sourced lumber.
Once upon a time, you may have gone down to your local lumber yard and picked out whichever piece of wood suited your project or your fancy without giving a second thought to where the wood may have come from or how it was harvested.
Today, awareness about the environmental impact of our actions will shape the future of this planet as we fight to combat climate change that is being brought about in part by unsustainable deforestation measures.
Don’t get me wrong though — while I am an advocate for sustainable resource usage that will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the beautiful pine forests of Canada for years to come, I am not a tree-hugger in the polarized sense. Careful tree clearing practices are necessary not only for a healthy forest but also to support a growing population and economy.
Therefore, with those things in mind, it’s important that you’re selecting a wood that is either sustainable, reclaimed, or locally-sourced.
Sustainable wood
Sustainable wood comes from responsibly maintained forests that are protected from deforestation by planting seedlings faster than trees are cut down. These managed forests are also harvested with the associated environmental impact in mind. Sustainable wood will be found under the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) logo.
Sustainable woods you can use for your next project:
- Bamboo
- White Ash
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Maple
- Black Cherry
- Pine
- Douglas Fir
Least sustainable woods:
- Ebony
- Burmese Teak
- Merbau
- Wenge
- Brazilian Mahogany
Reclaimed wood
Reclaimed wood is processed wood that is being re-used after its original purpose is no longer required. Reclaimed wood comes from a variety of sources including old houses and wine barrels. Using reclaimed wood for projects is a great way to continue the life cycle of the wood and to keep it out of a burn pile. You can find reclaimed wood in old barns, mill buildings, shipping crates, old buildings, demolition companies, salvage and lumberyards, boatyards, waterways, used furniture, and on the internet.
Locally-sourced wood
Locally-sourced wood simply means that it has come from a forest in your region directly to a local sawmill and then to a local distributor. Locally-sourced lumber has a low carbon footprint as it hasn’t had to travel long distances by freight to reach its final destination (unlike exotic wood).
2. Be responsible with chemicals.
Woodworkers often expose themselves to toxic chemicals without understanding or appreciating the effect they can have on the body or the environment.
Solvents, glues, resins, paints, varnishes, paint strippers, and wood dust all pose health risks if not dealt with properly. These chemicals can enter the body through a myriad of pathways including inhalation of aerosol particles, absorption through contact with skin, and ingestion. Reading the labels on some of these chemicals can indicate what they can do to the human body. An extrapolation of that information can give you an idea of what the chemicals will do if released into the environment.
Once you become aware of the toxicity of the chemicals used for a project, you can then employ a few different types of controls to protect yourself and the environment from exposure to these chemicals:
- Don’t use a chemical if you don’t have to.
- Replace a toxic or hazardous chemical with a less toxic or hazardous one.
- Keep an area clear of unnecessary personnel if working with a toxic chemical.
- Ensure you work in a well-ventilated area.
- Try to plan projects for maximum efficiency to minimize your exposure.
- Use proper PPE.
- Dispose of chemicals properly — chemicals should not be disposed of down the drain, in your regular trash bin, or the environment.
- Clean up any spills in the environment immediately.
- Be aware of the “persistence” of any chemicals you use. Persistence refers to how long the chemical will exist in the environment before it eventually breaks down.
3. Pool your tools.
The minimalist movement has taken the world by storm as a way to usher in sustainable living with an emphasis on reducing consumerist behavior.
While true minimalism is often not a feasible way of life, one of the principles of minimalism is truly possible for woodworkers looking to reduce their environmental impact. That is, to pool your tools.
Woodworkers often have a multitude of tools necessary to complete each project that comes across their table. Much like when you buy an entire spice container for a single recipe where you use a 1/4 teaspoon and then leave it in the back of your spice cabinet, woodworkers also buy tools to complete one project and then leave them to collect dust until the next time (if there is a next time).
The idea behind pooling your tools is akin to asking your neighbor for a cup of sugar if you run out. Instead of buying new tools every time you realize you need one for a particular project, you ask the local community of woodworkers if anyone has the particular tool that they would be interested in loaning you. By pooling tools, you end up saving individuals money, creating relationships within the community, and saving the environment by not buying into the consumerist movement.
A good rule of thumb would be to ask if you’re going to use a tool for more than one project. If so, it makes sense to invest in buying that tool, whether new or used. However, if you’re not likely to use the tool more than once, look to community bulletin boards or your best friend’s garage to loan that tool.
4. Have a plan for scrap wood.
Much like how the First Nations people would harvest every part of the animals they killed to avoid waste and to pay respect to the animal, it’s important to have a plan for your scrap wood. Avoid waste and pay respect to the tree by doing your best to use all of your scrap wood.
Your reason for using scrap wood doesn’t have to be as spiritual as I make it out to be, but the environmentally responsible aspect of using scrap wood should be in the back of your mind.
Lacking ideas for your scrap wood? Here are 100 scrap wood project ideas to get you started.
5. Become educated on the environmental impact of your actions.
It can be exhausting having to constantly educate yourself and be aware of the environmental impact your actions have. Eco-anxiety is a real thing that can occur when people become stressed out about the impact they are having on the environment.
Therefore, be aware of the environmental impact of your projects, but don’t let it ruin your experience. Only make your woodworking projects as sustainable as you can feasibly maintain without hurting your wallet or your psyche.
