As more people make greener choices with their lifestyles and find new ways to reduce their carbon footprint, creating a home that is environmentally friendly is high on the list for those redecorating. This, coupled with wood being one of the biggest trending materials of the year, makes it easy to see exactly why wood is a natural choice for homeowners.

We’ve rounded up the best reasons why you should love wood…

• It’s a renewable material. Wood is known to be one of the most naturally renewable energy sources, which means it will have less of an impact on the environment compared to other materials.

• It lasts a long time. A wide variety of factors affect how long a wooden product lasts, including the type of wood, the location of the product (interior or exterior environments), and the treatment that has been applied to it. Generally, wood is lightweight, but also strong and durable. When treated correctly, hardwood doors and floors, for instance, can last longer than a lifetime – some over 100 years. The longer wood lasts, the less energy is used in the production of new products, which in turn makes it better for the environment.

• It can be recycled and reused. With wood lasting a lifetime, it’s the ideal material for recycling. Using recycled wood keeps the carbon footprint very low and means limiting the use of freshly-milled timber and negating importing costs while preserving our natural timber resources for future use. Reusing salvaged wood means fewer materials being sent to landfills or being burned, both of which pollute the environment. And, of course, the other benefit is that reclaimed wood furniture is full of character and raw, rustic charm that only time-worn timber can provide.

• It absorbs carbon dioxide. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which lowers the overall carbon footprint of wood. As a ‘carbon store’, once wood absorbs CO2, it is stored there and remains out of the atmosphere. Wood is the only truly sustainable building material and for every cubic meter of wood used in construction, approximately one tonne of carbon dioxide is saved. Choosing wood can really make a difference when considering carbon storage.

• It’s great at retaining heat. The cellular makeup of wood means that it naturally retains heat more effectively than other materials – in fact, it holds seven times more heat than ceramic tiles. Air chambers within the wood itself absorb heat and create a naturally warmer home that requires less energy to heat it, which is kinder to the environment.

• Its waste is 100 percent biodegradable. There is very little waste when wooden products are made, any residual chippings can be burned as an energy source or used as sawdust during manufacture. There is no waste in timber production. For example, offcuts and by-products from wood processing industries like furniture-making can be used to create chipboard and generate renewable heat and energy.’ The waste that is produced is 100 percent biodegradable, meaning that it eventually decomposes and breaks down back into the earth, making it better for the environment.

• It has a positive effect on your physical and mental health. Research has shown that reducing the amount of man-made materials and introducing natural alternatives, such as wood, lowers stress and anxiety levels when you’re at home. Wood has psychological effects on people and a similar stress-reducing effect to nature. Studies carried out so far have revealed that wood has a calming effect: ‘This is based on the positive emotional experience that wood causes, such as proximity to nature, warmth, homeliness and a relaxing effect.

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