How Sustainable is Rubberwood?

Rubberwood is generally considered to be a sustainable material, primarily because of its unique characteristics and the way it is harvested. At KIKI & SEBBY^®, it was important that we used sustainable wood in the manufacturing of our new SBROUT^®.

Rubberwood comes from the rubber tree, which grows mostly in tropical areas like Southeast Asia. The trees are initially grown for their latex sap, which is harvested for use in the production of rubber. Once the trees have reached the end of their productive lifespan (usually around 25-30 years), they are cut down and replaced with new trees to maintain the plantation. The wood from these trees is then used to produce furniture, flooring, and other products.

There are several reasons why rubberwood is considered to be a sustainable material:

Utilisation of a waste product: Rubberwood is a byproduct of the rubber industry, so using it for furniture production is a way to repurpose what would otherwise be a waste product.

Fast-growing trees: Rubber trees grow quickly, with a new crop being planted every 25-30 years. This means that rubberwood is a renewable resource that can be harvested in a way that doesn’t hurt natural forests.

Carbon sequestration: As rubber trees grow, they take in carbon dioxide from the air. This helps lessen the effects of climate change.

Less environmental impact: The production of rubberwood furniture requires less energy and resources compared to other wood species like oak or maple.

In short, rubberwood is generally thought to be a sustainable material because it comes from a renewable source, grows quickly, and has a low impact on the environment. But, like any other natural resource, it’s important to make sure it’s harvested in a responsible way and managed in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. We are proud to be able to share with you that we take this incredibly seriously.