Tropical hardwood

There are hundreds of tropical hardwood types that are used in woodworking. Some of the most common species are mahogany, merbau, okoume, teak, meranti, azobe and bangkirai. The sustainability profile of tropical hardwoods is characterised by good durability, but a large impact of transportation and risk of illegal activities connected to logging. Unless you are in the tropics or the wood is certified, you have to take into account that it is difficult to keep track of where the wood comes from. One of the main issues is that it could come from old growth rainforest.

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The life cycle	Pro	Con
		High footprint Unless it's FSC, it is likely to come from areas where old growth forests are being cut illegally. Some tropical wood types are themselves endangered species. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that have a low footprint Bamboo panels Bamboo stems Construction site wood MDF OSB Particle board Reclaimed wood Scaffolding wood Second hand particle board Softwood Used pallets	Tips There are many types of FSC certified tropical hardwood, for example merbau, andiron, jatoba, teak, favinha, guariuba, tatajuba and kwila. Look for those to make sure you do not contribute to clear cutting of old growth rainforest.
		Long distance Transport is one of the largest impacts in the wood supply chain. Unless you are in the tropics, tropical wood comes from far, and most of the time it is transported as logs. Transport before drying and sawing can use up to 3 times more fuel than transport as sawn planks, for the same amount of cut wood. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are local Northern hardwood	Tips Maybe you can substitute tropical wood for something that comes from nearby. Look for less known, interesting types of local hardwood, for example on the Wood Database
		Time consuming Wood types with high hardness take time to work and can blunt tools earlier than softer wood. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are quick MDF OSB Softwood Used pallets Costly Imported wood usually costs more than domestic wood. If it's cheap it is more likely to have been harvested illegally Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are low cost Bamboo stems Construction site wood MDF Non FSC wood OSB Particle board Reclaimed wood Scaffolding wood Second hand particle board Softwood Used pallets	Tips Some tropical hardwoods have an especially irritant dust. You can find more information in the wood database.u00a0http://www.wood-database.com/wood-articles/wood-allergies-and-toxicity/

	Long lifespan Tropical hardwood is usually more resistant to rot and wear. Products made of the hardest tropical woods can last more than 25 years. Information about the durability of different woods is widely available (1).

	Easy reuse Especially for the tropical wood types with high resistance to decay, hardwood products can be easily restored and go a long way. Easy recycling When it's not painted or treated, hardwood can be recycled as fuel or woodchips.