Are wooden alternatives really eco-friendly?
As a result in the growing movement away from plastic wood has become what is considered by many as an eco-friendly alternative for many items. It is, however, a little more complex than that. Whereas wood does indeed biodegrade and causes very little damage if left to rot in natural environments, the key questions are; what species of wood is the item made from?, is it from a sustainable source? How is it treated (to prevent rotting)?
These are some questions that are very difficult to assess if you are just buying the end product as the only information you get is from the manufacturer, who in our experience will say anything to close the sale. At Better Switch Green we know how to check if the wood is FSC regulated and we go the extra mile to double-check using our own resources to ensure our suppliers are buying wood from responsible sources, furthermore, we check all treatment of the wood either if it is done in a factory or at the lumber-yard which supplies the factory. What is often overlooked when buying wooden items is the hazardous chemicals used when the raw material is treated. We keep a close eye on the many standards required by the FTA for the production and importation of wooden items.
