Is Your Lawnchair Illegal?

by Doug
(Somewhere Out in Lake Ontario)

It seems that your lawnchair or fancy garden bench miight be illegal. Particularly if it has been constructed of a tropical wood. (Those of you using plastic chairs can relax - you're just being environmentally insensitive to use petroleum products when renewable wood is available)

It turns out according to the Environmental Investigation Agency that there's a ton of cutting going on in forests that are supposed to be protected. Using wood that is on the endangered list. Short term bucks for long term pain kind of thing.

And when you buy these wood products, you're the reason the practice continues.

Here's the report on this and other forest related issues.

So how do you make sure your wood product is legal?

Ask it's name.

Do Not Buy

Do not buy "Ramin" - a light coloured wood often used in Venetian blinds, picture frames, pool cues and tool handles.

Do not buy "Merbau" - a reddish mahogany found in a ton of outdoor decking products.

Do not buy 'Bengkirai" (sometimes sold as "Balau") a yellowish wood used in garden furntiture.

Do not buy "Meranti" (sometimes sold as "Lauan") a dark reddish wood used in plywood, doors and window frames.

Do Buy

Any product that is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (it will be on the label)

If not on the label - walk away and make an environmental statement with your wallet.