Hiding In Plain Sight
Isn’t it ironic how a random conversation can turn into a 30,000-foot opportunity? To open someone’s eyes and understanding about why choosing wood is so exTREEmelysmart.
Conversations that have a connection to the benefits of wood can start anywhere. Even during a meal on an airline flight when wooden flatware is provided along with the meal.
The conversation might start this way. “How can wood cutlery be a good idea? Does it really benefit the environment to use trees to produce disposable flatware?”

Let’s turn that question on its head: how can it be a good idea to continually use non-renewable fossil fuels to make plastic disposable flatware? Especially when their production adds to the carbon released into the atmosphere and the finished product is neither biodegradable nor generally recyclable.
Signs of a Knowledge Gap
A simple conversation can be an indicator of a gap in understanding. People are creatures of habit and are shaped by the information they absorb. Often, they haven’t taken the opportunity to think about production practices and long-term effects in the overall context of what’s truly best for the environment.
The Larger Conversation: We “get it” But Others Don’t
When we see wood in use in the world around us, we think of its sustainability and contribution to addressing the needs for carbon capture. And when we see plastics in daily use, we immediately recognize the burden placed on the planet for producing those items. We do this because we understand–after all, this is our industry.
But how many others need more complete information to grasp the facts that can help them make better decisions?
Use these everyday interactions as the jumping off point for conversations that bring new perspectives to others and help educate them on the benefits of wood and the contributions of the wood products industry. Take the openings given to start meaningful discussions and help others to learn.

Woods Benefits are Hiding in Plain Sight
Let’s look back at the airline flatware. Wood used in manufacturing the utensil in your hand is a renewable resource and in its present state, it stores carbon. The main inputs for production of either wood or plastic flatware are water and energy.
Trees need water to grow. Yet, unlike plastics production, nature makes an almost perfect loop, in that nearly all the water used in growing trees cycles back to the atmosphere in the form of transpiration. And the energy needed to plant, harvest and process wood is far lower than that needed to process plastic.
At the end of its useful life, wood flatware can be composted at home or commercially, whereas plastics are not compostable and generally not recyclable. As plastics partially break down, micro plastics can be the result.
Wood products help to transmit power and transport goods to support everyday life.
Utility Poles
Where would modern life be without electricity? Utility poles line the streets in cities and towns. Wood poles not only serve the telephone and electrical industries, but their production is less of a burden on the environment than that of steel or cement poles. Wood offers long life and stores carbon all while delivering dependable performance for the utility industries.
Resilient and durable, wood withstands winds and impact. In comparison to concrete or steel, wood’s cradle to grave energy input is lower, based on a comparable service life.
Rail Ties
While trucking is responsible for a substantial portion of freight movement across the county, many products and industries are highly dependent on rail for transport. According to Statista, rail freight transport in the United States was 2.18 trillion ton-kilometers in 2023. The Railway Tie Association reports that 90 to 93% of the rail ties in use to support the North American railway system, are wood. Once again, flexibility, durability, and sustainability converge to make wood the material of choice for this application.
Flooring and Furnishings
Consumers and professionals have a choice. When wood–rather than laminate–is used for flooring, decking, paneling or furniture, we’re looking at applications in which carbon is stored, and the emphasis is on sustainability.
Real American Hardwoods makes a point of educating consumers and professionals on the benefits of wood in a range of applications. Used in the interior environment, wood supports biophilic design practices used to help heal body and mind and deepen the connection with nature. Laminates, on the other hand, are created using chemicals and once installed, can release unwelcome chemicals into the interior environment.
The useful life of wood products, particularly flooring, raises another point of differentiation. When a laminate floor wears out or is damaged, the remedy is replacement of the floor. On the other hand, worn wood flooring can be restored, giving it new life that can last for many years.
These concepts are nothing new to anyone in the wood products industry, but they are a reminder of how much other people may not understand. The fact that these questions come up indicates that more people need to learn the truth about trees. Share what you know any time you have the opportunity.
The North American Forest Foundation is on a mission to help share the truth about trees to a wider audience, deepen understanding, and encourage more people to seek careers in the wood products industry.

Our heart lies with teaching future generations, providing Truth About Trees kits to elementary classroom teachers, at no charge. We’re taking the next step and developing a gamified app for junior high students to add another layer of understanding and help connect kids with careers in forest-related work.
If you share our passion, there are several ways you can help us reach more young people. Donations, sponsorship components that make up the educational kits, or sponsorship and involvement with the junior high app are just a few of the opportunities to participate.

Contact Allison DeFord at adeford@northamericanforestfoundation.org to find out more about how you can help us build a healthier planet and maintain a strong industry. And don’t miss any chances to share your wood products industry story with those who need to hear it.