Is Ipe wood eco friendly?

Is Ipe wood eco friendly?

Ipe trees are, however, vulnerable to overharvesting, to illegal logging, and generally have long transporting distances, making this tropical timber a less sustainable wood than most others. Then, we evaluate its sustainability, potentials, and shortfalls.

Is Ipe wood endangered?

Now don’t panic: Ipe is not endangered, nor is it illegal to import. Ipe is still coming into North America, and it will still be available for your decking projects this season. But for the first time in many years, we are seeing a flaw in the armor of the world’s most popular tropical decking.

Is Brazilian walnut endangered?

While neither of these trees are currently on the CITES Appendices of endangered species, Imbuia is currently listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of clear-cutting to its natural populations on the outskirts of some of the world’s biggest rainforests.

Is Ipe good for ground contact?

This wood resists insects, rot and mildew, and it can be used in ground contact without preservatives or additional treatments. Testing by the US Navy in a 1962 Panama Canal study showed Ipe to be one of the top performers in resistance to decay, termites, and borers.

Can Ipe wood be used indoors?

Ipe wood often is used outdoors as decking and siding Inside, it’s typically seen in flooring or cabinetry. For indoor use, the wood has to be kiln-dried to remove moisture, which keeps it from warping or cracking, says Scott Zubrow, architectural specialist at General Woodcraft in New London, Conn.

Is Cumaru more sustainable than Ipe?

Cumaru Decking: A Sustainable Ipe Lookalike If going for a similar look to ipe, consider cumaru. Cumaru is also durable and weathers well; it’s colloquially called Brazilian teak. Its high density and longevity make it one of the best woods to choose for decking or other intensive structural purposes.

Is Ipe wood dust toxic?

It just so happens that Silica and chemicals embedded in Ipe are extremely toxic. And now Silica and the other chemicals in the tropical hardwood are becoming known to cause health problems. When you breathe the dust from sawing, it can cause immediate sickness. Also, Ipe splinters cause immediate infection.

Is walnut wood eco friendly?

Black walnut wood is a sustainable material thanks to trees’ carbon sequestration, carbon storage in furniture, which are generally long-life, and carbon offset upon recycling. In addition, agroforestry can increase the value of land used for growing black walnut, sustaining the logging industry.

What wood is extinct?

Before the early 1900s, the American chestnut was the predominant tree species in eastern forests. Today, more than 100 years after a blight forced it into extinction, scientists are resurrecting this once-great tree.

Does Ipe sink in water?

Ipe is one of the densest hardwoods available. It is one of the densest hardwoods available, three times harder than cedar. Ipe has the same fire rating as concrete and steel, meaning it resists flames much longer than softer woods, and is so dense that it doesn’t float in water.

Is ipe wood dust toxic?

Is IPE environmentally friendly?

They do not contain plastics, chemicals, or pollute the environment. They can be repurposed after their use as decking or siding and they are 100% biodegradable. At the point of installation and after, it is fair to say, Ipe is very environmentally friendly.

What are the issues with Ipe harvesting?

There are other issues with the harvesting of ipe. Notably, it’s hard to ensure that ipe is truly certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Ocean City encountered this snag after planning to use over a hundred thousand feet of ipe for boardwalks.

What is ipe wood and why should you care?

Ipe (pronounced ee-pay) wood is one of the world’s most unique woods, but many architects, designers and builders have been refusing to use it. It is a stunning exotic wood that’s ideal for decking, but ipe presents many environmental issues that shouldn’t be overlooked.

What is IPE’s mission?

IPE’s Mission: Promoting information disclosure and advancing multi-party participation, to bring back blue skies and clear waters. The Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) is a non-profit environmental research organization registered and based in Beijing, China.