The issue of environmental protection becomes increasingly relevant each year, with eco-consciousness manifesting not only in the policies of nations and major industries but also in construction and design trends, new product lines, and everyday solutions.
One such trend, aligning with the principles of sustainable development in Ukrainian manufacturing, is the utilization of natural wood veneer in the production of furniture and decorative elements for interiors. The ELIOHOME company has been at the forefront of this trend for many years.
Why is using veneer more environmentally friendly than solid wood? How did the first veneer furniture come into existence? And what exactly is natural wood veneer? Read on to find out.
The History of Wood Veneer
Wood veneer as a building material is far from a recent invention by modern furniture manufacturers. Its origins date back to Ancient Egypt, approximately 4000 years ago. Archaeological research reveals that during those ancient times, wood veneer was used as a decoration in the tombs of pharaohs — craftsmen sawed thin slices of precious ebony veneer, using special saws, and made amazing artworks, adding pieces of ivory. In the 17th century, during the Renaissance period, veneers made from valuable wood species were used both to create artistic masterpieces and to decorate furniture and walls. Finally, in the 1970s, advanced technology brought about the development of high-tech lathes and methods for producing an incredibly thin veneer without harming the structure and appearance of wood.
What is Wood Veneer?
Veneers are thin sheets of wood, typically ranging from 0.1 to 1 mm in thickness. These sheets are crafted from logs or blocks of wood, prepared to meet specific standards. There are two primary types of veneers: planed and sawn, which vary in terms of manufacturing method, thickness, and intended use. Various wood species, including birch, maple, alder, walnut, oak, ash, larch, and others, are utilized to create this finishing material. Exotic wood veneers, such as wenge, cedar, ebony, and others are used for exclusive products.
Veneer is very popular in furniture manufacturing, and decorating the interiors of houses, offices, shops, and other premises. At ELIOHOME production, innovative 90-degree bending technology for wrapping various structural elements with veneer is used. Thanks to the innovative solutions devised by the company’s engineers, craftsmen manage to obtain products with crisp edges and sharp corners.
Why is Veneer an Environmentally Friendly Product?
For centuries, natural wood has been one of the preferred materials for home decoration and furniture crafting. It is undeniably beautiful, practical, and wood crafts are durable and prestigious. However, solid wood is expensive, and from an ecological standpoint, its widespread use can be detrimental to nature and economically inefficient. To mitigate the adverse impact of the woodworking industry on the environment, the world has embraced a strategy of sustainable forest management. This approach involves careful tree cultivation and selection for production, as well as the utilization of nearly every part of the tree.
From an ecological perspective, veneer is the most environmentally friendly use of any tree, primarily due to its minimal wood waste during production. Let’s consider the numbers: from each inch of a log (approximately 2.5 cm), craftsmen can “slice” up to 42 paper-thin “leaves.” For instance, a single log measuring 8 feet in length (almost 2.5 meters) and 24 inches in diameter (almost 61 cm) can yield a remarkable 1,008 veneer sheets. When arranged side by side, these sheets cover an area of almost 2,000 square feet (186 m2), equivalent to over 60 sheets of flexible wood veneer measuring 1.2 x 2.4 m2 each. All of this can be obtained from just one tree!
ELIOHOME production uses the highest-quality veneer sourced from Ukrainian and Italian suppliers. Each batch comes with quality certificates, attesting to the material’s compliance with international standards (such as the FSC standard), the State Standard of Ukraine, and Ukraine’s sanitary and epidemiological requirements.
Furthermore, modern veneer production generates zero emissions of harmful chemical vapors, as it avoids the use of chemicals dangerous to health and the environment. Most manufacturers, including ELIOHOME, have long ago transitioned to employing water-based glues, which are entirely safe.
Our planet protection is no longer merely a matter of political correctness, which you can choose to join or not. Environmental consciousness is a responsibility we all should share.