3.1.2

Timber: Environment & Ethics

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Environment and Ethics

Timbers are a fundamental and popular choice of materials for many products, furniture and structures.

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Ethical factors: FSC

  • FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and they ensure there is responsible management of forests.
  • This involves the cultivating and replanting of trees.
  • Trees being cut down too quickly can result in large areas of deforestation.
  • This results in a shortage of wood and a lack of investment in the research of other materials.
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Ethical factors: human costs

  • Other ethical factors are the living conditions for people that are felling the trees.
  • It is important that these workers receive fair rights and good pay for what they do.
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Environmental factors

  • Environmental factors: recyclable or reused materials.
  • Timbers can be reproduced from recycling such as MDF and composite boards.
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Forestry management

  • FSC ensure the proper management of forests so trees are as sustainable as possible.
  • This is simply the process of cutting and removing a tree and planting a sapling in its place to ensure there are enough trees in the world to counter global warming by absorbing CO2 and giving out O2.
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Reusing and recycling

  • Reusing materials and upcycling furniture is another technique in which we can reduce the use of wood as a material while still delivering interesting and useful products.
  • Materials such as chipboard can be economically made to ensure that there is the strength but still retaining value for money.

Social and Cultural Factors

Timbers are a fundamental and popular choice of materials for many products, furniture and structures.

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Social factors: social responsibility

  • We have a social responsibility to ensure that there are trees still in this world.
  • To ensure social harmony and for the future of this planet trees are important.
  • It is the responsibility of the carpenter and designer to use a reputable and environmentally friendly wholesaler or source.
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IKEA

  • IKEA is now being more sustainable by owning and managing their own forests.
  • They tend to use softwoods and use smaller lengths of wood joined together with finger joints which are secured with wood adhesive.
  • This allows them to use their own stock sizes for materials.
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Cultural factors

  • There are many different cultures that want to use native woods.
  • In some countries, trees are needed for indigenous species and people of that country.
  • This can bring about homelessness and a lack of insect population.
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Cultural factors cont.

  • Some tree species have been transported from countries which have had insect infestations, which have then made its way to other countries.
  • Over the course of history, Africa has lost many of its older wooden masks, these are now seen in museums.

Jump to other topics

1Core Technical Principles

2Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

3Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

4Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

5Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

6Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

7Designing & Making Principles

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