Separating fact from fiction: A Closer look at American hardwoods
StartFragmentAmerican Hardwood products are uniquely beautiful, responsibly manufactured, and conducive to good health. Surround yourself with them. EndFragment
(BPT) - As home improvement projects take center stage, the search is on for products that will enhance, rather than jeopardize the health and well-being of our families and loved ones. Products made from American hardwoods have been the natural choice for healthy home and work environments for generations. Today is no different.
With so many options available in the current marketplace, Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center, www.HardwoodInfo.com, suggests a little more research, in order to separate product fact from fiction. "Health-conscious and environmentally responsible consumers are challenged to recognize products and materials that are both aesthetically appealing and safe," she says. "I encourage taking a closer look at U.S. products - especially flooring and cabinetry, furniture and moulding - made from American hardwoods. They're uniquely beautiful, safe and a friend to the environment. And they have the credentials to prove it!"
Treasured for generations, and forever fresh
Enhancing our surroundings with products made from American hardwoods is a wise choice and a sound investment. In the kitchen or the bath, over the fireplace or on the floor, the sheer beauty, durability and timeless appeal of the products make a lasting statement everywhere. So paint it; stain it; repair it; refinish it; walk on it; restore it; love it; refresh it! The possibilities are endless.
Made in the U.S.A.
There is much to consider before making a purchase in today's marketplace. What's the product's origin? Is it made of natural materials or is it a synthetic product steeped with chemicals and potential carcinogens? What health and/or environmental implications will its manufacturing process have?
In the U.S., quality standards and manufacturing practices are regulated and monitored by U.S. agencies and associations. Consumers can confidently choose products made from all natural American hardwoods knowing that the hardwood has been responsibly harvested and that manufacturing quality control standards have been met.
A friend to the environment
Flash back to seventh grade biology for a memory refresher about photosynthesis and long-term carbon sequestration.
* Growing trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, separate the carbon and oxygen atoms, then return the oxygen to the air.
* They use just the right amount of carbon to grow trunk, branches and leaves, and store or sequester the unused carbon for the life of the tree or the products made thereof.
That means using all natural American hardwoods for products like flooring and cabinetry, furniture and moulding contributes to the long-term sequestration of carbon.
Sustainability
For centuries, products made from American hardwoods have been providing lasting beauty, warmth and functional value to our homes and countless structures everywhere. Future generations can expect the same. The U.S. Forest Service reports that the volume of hardwoods in American forests today is 131 percent greater than it was in 1953 because more than twice as much hardwood grows each year as is harvested. That's sustainability in a nutshell. We are not running out of trees - hardwoods are an abundant, renewing and sustainable resource.
Step into the world of American Hardwoods, www.HardwoodInfo.com, and take a closer look at the myriad of products made from this natural and healthy, uniquely beautiful, responsibly harvested and more-abundant-than-ever resource!
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