There are many ways out there to do your part in making a good impact on the environment. Did you know that using reclaimed wood is one of them? When you hear the word “recycle” you probably think of plastic bottles or newspapers, but using reclaimed wood for re-creation into decks, doors, floors, or anything else you can make with timber, is benefiting the environment in the same way if not more. When looking at the reasons to use reclaimed wood over brand new wood, there is not much to compare. Reclaimed wood is sturdy, original, trendy, and adds a vintage feel to the project that you are working on. After all of these comes the most beneficial aspect, which is what it does for the environment. Through using reclaimed wood, you are able to beautify a project you are working on as well as help the environment in more ways than just one.

Reclaimed Wood & the Environment

What is Reclaimed Wood?

So what is reclaimed wood? Reclaimed wood is any type of wood that has been used previously and does not differ very much from its original state. Whether it has been used in decks, barns, homes or even shipping crates, all types of wood can be reclaimed and reused. While many times this wood is discarded, finding companies that reclaim the wood is great if you are looking to start on a new project that involves lumber. Rather than purchasing new wood, reclaimed wood allows you to create the beautiful project that you had in mind all while being able to help the environment in many possible ways.

Why Use Reclaimed Wood?

Decrease Demand – When people purchase reclaimed wood rather than newly sourced lumber, they are putting a decrease in demand for this newly sourced lumber. When there is a decrease in demand, there will be a curb in deforestation. If everyone were to start buying reclaimed wood rather than new wood, there would be no need for the destruction of our forests.

Reduces Landfill Waste – Using previously used wood rather than disposing of it reduces the amount of landfill waste. When wood is dumped at landfills, many times it mixes with other forms of waste, which makes it harder for it to decompose completely. Considering that landfill waste turns into pollution, being able to cut down landfill waste in any way possible is something that everyone should strive to do.

Saves Energy – When someone uses reclaimed wood, it takes much fewer natural resources than it does when it comes to using new lumber, thus saving energy. New lumber involves cutting, transporting, and processing of the trees. This process has a huge impact on the environment, whereas using reclaimed wood avoids it.

Benefits the Animals – Thousands of animals are living, nesting, and gathering food in the trees that are being cut down for new lumber. Reducing the amount of new wood that is in demand will not only be saving our forests, but also will be saving the numerous types of animals, such as birds, squirrels, and raccoons, that depend on these trees for surviving.

As you can see, there is more than just one reason that using reclaimed wood is beneficial to our environment. Next time, when working on a new home project that involves the use of wood, think about all of the damage to the environment that purchasing and using brand new wood would be causing. Not only is reclaimed wood stronger, original, and trendy, but it is constantly benefiting the environment. What other reasons would you need to switch to reclaimed? Not only will you be benefiting from it, but so will the environment around you. For more information on reclaimed barnwood and what can be re-created from it, give Barnstormerswood, the top reclaimed barnwood company in North America, a call at 309-368-7472.