Wooden handles and environmental sustainability: we can do it!
Environmental sustainability is an increasingly important issue in every industry, and the cutting of forests to obtain the raw materials for the production of wooden handles is no exception. Although wood is a natural and renewable material, its production can have a significant impact on the environment and forest biodiversity.
Perhaps you might not know this, but wooden handles are not only chosen for their aesthetic and functional advantages, but also for their presumed environmental sustainability. However, as with any material extracted or taken from our planet, the use of wood as a raw material for the production of handles has an environmental impact that must be taken into account. And preferably reduced to a minimum.
As previously said, wood is a renewable natural resource – it can also be obtained from trees grown in a sustainable way not only for the environment but also for the animals and people who inhabit it! If the wood used to make the handles comes from unsustainable sources, deforestation and soil erosion occur, as well as the loss of many vital habitats for wildlife. Unfortunately, not everyone cares about the environment. Deforestation is one of today’s main concerns related to the environment. According to the United Nations, deforestation is responsible for about 10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. A real tragedy for everyone.
Do the right thing: choose sustainable wooden handles
To ensure that timber is produced sustainably there are several organisations that certify environmentally friendly timber producers. Some examples are: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). These organisations verify that the timber is produced in a sustainable way, respecting the environment and workers’ rights. Since 2021, around 13% of the world’s forests are FSC certified, while the PEFC certifies 30% of the wood produced globally. The benefit is not only for the environment. Sustainably-produced wood can create jobs and contribute to the development of local communities, which avoid being exploited and underpaid.
At Foppoli Bramin, we only use wood from FSC and PEFC certified forests that guarantee the wood from properly controlled forests. We are convinced of what we do and we are proud of it!
Beware of paints
The origin of the wood for the handles for tools is not the only point on which we must focus when talking about sustainability.
The production of wooden handles requires different processing phases of the raw material, which involves the use of energy and the consequent emission of greenhouse-gases. Painting or finishing the handles can also involve the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
In Foppoli Bramin we have found a solution to both problems:
Regarding the processing steps, over time we have developed a production cycle that allows us to reuse all waste to convert it into natural fuel with great caloric value, which is odourless, free of glue resins and paints. We have also optimised the production cycle from an energy point of view, which has allowed us to obtain the recognition by the Lombardy Region of “Artisan Excellence”.
Regarding paints, however, our initial choice was to reduce and then eliminate paints with solvents, as they are harmful and polluting to the environment, and to replace them with more environmentally friendly water-based paints. But then we decided to do even more, eliminating completely (wherever possible) from the production process the use of paints for aesthetic purposes.
In short: the use of natural materials such as wood still has several advantages over synthetic materials. Plastic, for example, deriving from oil is a non-renewable resource and very energy-consuming, it is often difficult to recycle and can take hundreds of years to degrade, causing significant environmental pollution.
On the other hand, wooden handles can be easily disposed of and, if not painted, can also be composted. In addition, the wood is biodegradable and can be recycled for the production of paper and cardboard.
Wood is an ecological choice: as long as it is managed in a sustainable and responsible way. Choose only sustainable wooden and environmentally-friendly handles. Contact us to get a personalised estimate!
