Can Teak Wood Be Sustainably, Ethically Sourced?

Teak is a long-wearing hardwood that resists water and rot. It has long been the wood of choice for top-quality outdoor furniture and yacht decking. However, much of the teak wood on the US furniture market is illicitly sourced from Myanmar, the Southeast Asian country once known as Burma. In 2021, Myanmar’s democratically elected government was unseated during a coup. Before the coup, raw timber exports were banned to curb deforestation. But after the coup, the military government, which tortures and kills pro-democracy protesters, took over the nation’s teak trade. Now much of Myanmar’s teak is harvested unsustainably, and its forests are disappearing. Laborers who harvest teak often work in unsafe and underpaid conditions. Money from teak sales props up the violent and corrupt military junta. Buying teak lumber or teak wood products from Myanmar supports the undemocratic military regime that is bankrupting the nation.

Importing or selling new teak from Myanmar is illegal in many regions, including the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU. Unfortunately, it’s usually difficult to know the true source of teak furniture. Some sustainably harvested pre-coup teak was stockpiled before 2021. However, recently harvested teak is often mixed in with it and mislabeled. Also, a large quantity of Myanmar-grown wood is labeled as coming from other countries. Sadly, thousands of tons of Myanmar-sourced teak are still imported into the US every year.

Why Is Sustainable Teak Wood Hard to Source?

Acacia, black locust, cedar, white oak, and other hardwoods can make beautiful boat and ship decking. However, teak has long been preferred for yachts and other high-end boats. Large amounts of illegal unsustainably harvested teak are imported into the U.S. for these vessels each year | Ship deck: Eric Seddon for Pexels; boat deck: Roman Odintsov for Pexels

Teak trees need very particular growing conditions, and they take a long time to grow. They require lots of rain, fertile soil, and near-constant sunlight. Certain regions of Southeast Asia meet all these conditions. Teak thrives in Indonesia, Thailand, and Bangladesh as well as Myanmar. These countries are the sources of old-growth teak, the most coveted for its grain and size. But global demand for teak wood is far greater than the supply that comes from sustainably grown older trees.

The result has been an increase in what is known as “blood teak” or “conflict teak.” Logging bans have been ineffective, driving teak sales underground. The growing demand for the wood and the dwindling numbers of old-growth trees have led to deforestation. What’s more, laborers in Myanmar are forced to work for low wages and are subject to human rights violations. Money made from its sale props up corrupt political systems.

Luxury yacht builders prefer “primal teak” from Southeast Asia. However, African plantation teak is appealing to furniture builders who want an inexpensive alternative. Sadly, South Sudanese teak plantations, some of them offering eighty-year-old trees, don’t regularly replant after felling old-growth trees, so deforestation is a growing problem.

South Sudan—Another Source of Conflict Teak

The East African country of South Sudan’s timber trade is poorly regulated. An estimated 90 percent of South Sudanese logging is illegal. South Sudan exports a lot of teak wood to India for processing in their furniture industry. India, the world’s largest exporter of teak products, is unable to grow enough teak for its huge furniture market. Europe allows the import of South Sudanese wood when it’s proven to come from a legal source. However, traders regularly use forged documents to lie about Sudanese teak sourcing.

South Sudan’s timber trade is dominated by foreign companies. Most revenues go to corrupt politicians. Rebels used its sale to finance war until recently. Investigators tracking the movement of Sudanese wood into Europe found exporters readily willing to state that certificates of origin could be marked as “Uganda, Congo, or whatever you want. … We pay some money to an official and get the origin papers we want.” They offered Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda as sources as well, but of those five nations, only two have teak plantations. Another trader said it was easy to get falsified papers stating that Sudanese teak was grown in India.

Do Sustainable, Legal Sources of Teak Wood Exist?

Yes. However, being sure of teak’s origins is difficult. Many growers and traders being willing to lie and forge documents. Middlemen are often represented as being teak’s original sources. Suppliers often say teak comes from India or China, for example, but teak from those countries is often grown in Myanmar, then resold elsewhere.

Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam produce ethical teak according to Tallulah Chapman of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) an international nonprofit based in Europe, as reported in the UK’s Home & Gardens magazine. However, Indonesia is best known for its robust ethical certification system. The country assures importers that the teak they buy from Indonesia is ethically and sustainably harvested. The Indonesian government requires that all teak that’s sold be government-certified. Look for wood certified by Indonesia’s Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK), or the FSC.

Central America’s tropical environments can also sustain teak forests. Ethical, environmentally sustainable, and legal plantations are popping up in countries like Nicaragua and Panama. These nations’ governments use teak development to entice foreign investors. Well-managed plantation teaks provide jobs and put otherwise unused land to use creating renewable lumber sources. But teak is not a fast-growing wood. Teak planted sustainably in plantations can only be harvested and regrown every 25 years.

Be Sure Your Teak Is Ethically Sourced

Make sure any teak furniture you purchase is sold by companies who guarantee that their wood comes only from credibly certified plantations. For example, Westminster Teak’s website  says its factory is a member of Nusa Hijau, the Indonesian Chapter of the Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN), an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The company says it purchases only from a government-managed plantation that offers wood certified by the SVLK and FSC. Rove Concepts sells high-end indoor and outdoor furniture, including pieces made with teak. Rove touts the eco-friendliness of its furniture on its website, and says its wood is all FSC-certified.

Supposedly Indian-origin teak pieces—especially outdoor furniture items—are widely available from major US furniture and decor retailers. However, because so much Indian teak is actually imported from Myanmar or South Sudan, it’s not safe to assume that “Indian” teak is actually Indian in origin.

Vintage Teak—Economical, Sustainable & Ethical

Buying vintage teak wood furniture is a sustainable, ethical, and economical alternative. It means no new trees need be felled, and the cost is significantly lower.

Many beautiful authentic midcentury modern chairs, tables, credenzas, and sofa frames were made of teak. You can still find examples in excellent condition, often for less than the cost of a quality reproduction. Look for vintage shops that specialize in midcentury modern furnishings, or check out auctions, both in person and online. If you seek teak outdoor furniture, you’ll find used pieces at reasonable prices at estate sales and local online auctions.

Teak Alternatives

If you’re looking for outdoor furniture, you have many alternatives to teak. These include woven natural rattan or synthetic resin wicker, metal, or molded plastic or resin. You’ll also find composite materials like those often used to make sturdy decking materials (e.g., Trex).

If you’re sure you want wooden indoor or outdoor furniture and prefer teak, consider vintage teak pieces. These sustainable pieces usually cost less than new furniture. They’ll also keep you from supporting unsustainable timber harvesting, unethical and illegal labor practices, and unethical governmental regimes.

If you don’t want to purchase vintage outdoor furniture, you can find beautiful, well-made pieces in a variety of other attractive and sustainable hardwoods. Here are a few you might consider.

Acacia (a.k.a. Mimosa , Thorntree, or Wattle)

Dense and naturally water-resistant because of its high oil content, acacia resists moisture and pests. It has a yellow or pale reddish color and often has a strong grain. You can stain acacia outdoor furniture for extra UV protection, or just sand it well and seal it with polyurethane. Oil-based sealer lasts longer outside than water-based, but it takes longer to dry and cure.

Black Locust

This heavy, strong hardwood is an FSC-certified sustainable material. Native to the Eastern U.S., it’s resistant to weather, termites, and decay. Black locust is appropriate for boatbuilding, flooring, and fencing as well as furniture. It has no knots and few blemishes. It grows easily, even in infertile soils—it’s even invasive in some regions. But when grown where little else will, it provides resources and income in even poor growing conditions.

Cedar

This hardwood is plentiful in the U.S. and Canada, and it’s naturally termite- and rot-resistant. Western red cedar has a tight grain and a reddish hue. It’s durable, sustainable, and popular in the construction of boats, houses, fences, decks, and cabinetry. Cedar is a great choice for outdoor furniture. For construction purposes, you can buy standard cedar with some visible knotholes, or pay a bit extra for clear cedar. I found clear cedar a beautiful option for my back deck. You can stain it or seal it with polyurethane. I found that oiling my cedar deck with Penofin oil in a medium-colored stain left a beautiful finish. I reoiled it annually to keep the deck looking great.

Eucalyptus (a.k.a. Gum)

 This wood grows quickly and regenerates well. It adapts well to many environments, and can grow in disturbed land that can’t be used for other plants. Eucalyptus (or gum) trees can be used to reforest areas damaged by unsustainable harvesting or even mining. However, the leaves and bark can be toxic to animals in areas outside of their native Australia. Native animals can’t eat their leaves, and their roots repel native tree roots. In other words, eucalyptus trees don’t play well with others. However, eucalyptus waste is easy to recycle into other products. Some eucalyptus is grown in North America, and transporting this within the continent leads to lower fossil fuel transportation use than importing woods from other regions. Eucalyptus wood is durable, and with proper care, it can last for decades. To make sure your eucalyptus wood was sustainably sourced, look for an FSC certification.

Parawood/Rubberwood

Parawood, also known as rubberwood, is a pale, environmentally-friendly wood that comes from the rubber tree. It’s a light, medium-density hardwood related to the maple, and it’s usually grown on rubber plantations. Para trees are grown for their latex. When they come to the end of their latex-producing life, they’re harvested for their lumber instead of being burned. Rubberwood is stable and cracks or shrinks very little. It takes stains and finishes well, so you can leave it pale, or stain it whatever shade you choose. However, it is susceptible to fugal staining and insects, so it is often treated with strong chemicals to avoid decay. Because it’s the source of rubber, it can cause allergic reactions in people with latex allergies. And it absorbs moisture, so it doesn’t make durable outdoor furniture.

White Oak

This pale wood ranges from pale grey to yellowish-brown. Much less porous than red oak, white oak’s closed grain makes it resistant to staining and shrinking. It makes excellent flooring, and it can also work well for outdoor furniture. Boiled linseed oil will soak into the wood and give it extra water-resistance. Once cured, seal it with polyurethane or a stain-sealant product.

Problematic Alternatives

Ipe

This wood, native to South America, looks similar to mahogany. It’s very hard—even harder than teak—and very durable, and resistant to bugs and even fire. However, ipe must be well oiled to keep its internal moisture levels even so it doesn’t split. Unfortuntely, ipe trees are frequently overharvested. Because the wood is so expensive, it’s often logged illegally for sale on the black market. Its overharvesting could lead to its extinction. Also, ipe is often transported for long distances, which requires a lot of fossil fuel. For these reasons, we can’t recommend buying ipe wood.

Mahogany

This beautiful reddish wood is prized for making indoor and outdoor furniture, boats, floors, and even musical instruments. Some species, like big-leaf mahogany, are endangered because of severe overharvesting in its native South America. This has resulted in export bans, but that has led to illegal logging, which has jacked up demand and prices. Mahogany is now grown in monocropping plantations in places like Southeast Asia. The acid soil mahogany grows in doesn’t support other organisms, and monocropping makes the wood susceptible to diseases. Transporting it to North America or Europe can also require a lot of fuel. This makes it less sustainable than more locally grown woods.

Although the environmental costs of mahogany often make it a less-than-sustainable option, some mahogany is grown and harvested using sustainable methods. The only want to be sure that it’s sourced from responsibly managed forests is to buy furniture certified by the FSC.

Shorea

Shorea is very hard and highly durable wood, and it has a beautiful grain. It’s often marketed as a less-expensive alternative to mahogany. Most shorea is grown in sustainably managed forests, but it is also often illegally logged in protected rainforests. Before you buy it, find out whether it’s been certified as having been sustainably grown and harvested. If your retailer can’t guarantee its sustainability, avoid it.

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A cane-backed teak chair | Souranshi Fashion and Lifestyle Magazine for Pexels