Our Principles
When everything is going perfectly in Woodlab, we are making things in a better way. For our forests, for our society and for our customers.
WOODLAB MANIFESTO
1. ONLY USE TIMBER THAT THE FOREST CAN AFFORD TO GIVE YOU
This means prioritising trees that are diseased, or have fallen naturally. Currently we’re using much Ash and Larch due to the diseases they are suffering from nationally.
2. USE EVERYTHING, 70% IS NOT ENOUGH
For every tree that is felled a maximum of 70% of it gets used. Using all of what we take from the woods is imperative. We attempt to design with timber that others would discard.
3. GIVE BACK TO THE WOODS
Any timber we can’t use from the workshop (including our sawdust) we put back in the soil, increasing the cellular biomass, and enriching the microbiology.
4. FEWER MILES AND NO BLACK MARKET
Despite forestry standards, blackmarket timber from rainforested regions is everywhere. We won’t touch it with a bargepole.
5. CREATE GOODS THAT ARE TIMELESS
Our mission is to make beautiful eco-forested products that lock carbon up for a lifetime.
6. CAUTIOUSLY EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
We are pro-heritage and human skills, and we also look to incorporate the latest technologies, as long as it doesn’t threaten the continuation of British wood-culture.
7. HONOUR THE GRAIN
Each tree has a story, we endeavour to let that story be seen in the items we make, rather than forcing a design on to any piece of wood we choose.