UN report supports usage of wood than furniture made of metal, plastic 

Rome: UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) observes that furniture made of wood consumes less energy than to make furniture made of metals.

However, people may be worried over deforestation if wood is used for making furniture and other items. But the UN agency says buying a table made of wood instead of metal or plastic could significantly help cut carbon emissions. The study has estimated that deforestation and forest degradation account for about 12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The study carried out by the UN agency has estimated that deforestation and forest degradation account for about 12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon stored by wood products offsets nearly all of the greenhouse gas emissions related to their production.

According to a story by Thomson Reuters Foundation, furniture, floors and doors made of wood consume less energy to make aluminium or plastic materials. Moreover, wood continues to store carbon for years.

The UN agency further says that carbon stored by wood products offsets nearly all of the greenhouse gas emissions related to their production.

FAO published a report on carbon saving via furniture made of wood. “It might be counter-intuitive (to use wood) because if wood comes from illegal logging or irresponsible deforestation you will be damaging ecosystems and habitats,” Rene Castro-Salazar, FAO Sssistant Director-General for forestry, said in the report.

Producing firewood, a dining table or construction materials from sustainable sources then it’s nothing but replacing CO2 intense products for better ones. FAO further said that if wood is extracted in a sustainable way then one can do it forever. Forests play an important role in storing carbon emissions in leaves, branches and soil.

Producing firewood, a dining table or construction materials from sustainable sources then it’s nothing but replacing CO2 intense products for better ones. FAO further said that if wood is extracted in a sustainable way then one can do it forever. Forests play an important role in storing carbon emissions in leaves, branches and soil.

Materials such as concrete, plastic or aluminium, require a lot of energy from fossil fuels to produce. Even recycling plastic is not as environmentally friendly as some people may think.

Materials such as concrete, plastic or aluminium, require a lot of energy from fossil fuels to produce. Even recycling plastic is not as environmentally friendly as some people may think.

Even recycling of plastic also consumes lot of energy. Whereas wood will turn into organic material if you just leave it outside.

FAO further estimates usage of recycled wood in construction could lead to reduction in carbon emissions. Even if the recycled wood is burnt as fuel and this could also lead to a reduction in carbon emissions by up to 135 million tonnes a year. This is more than Belgium’s total carbon emissions each year.

However, FAO says that one of the main challenges in promoting the use of wood is to ensure that wooden products, just like other products, come from sustainable sources.

What’s the point having the most beautiful shoes in the world if one doesn’t check that they are produced with forced or child labour. If it’s so, then the buyer of those products is damaging the society and the people, says the UN agency.

What’s the point having the most beautiful shoes in the world if one doesn’t check that they are produced with forced or child labour. If it’s so then the buyer of those products is damaging the society and the people.

One should be sure that the brand you’re buying is behaving responsibly in terms of the social and labour conditions. Certification systems that allow buyers to verify where wood comes from and that it is sourced in a way that is not damaging forests were key.

This is how one can get guarantee on the products made in terms of social and labour conditions and ensuring wood comes from a sustainable source. This is where a logo of a certification scheme like FSC will serve this purpose.