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About the sustainability of olive wood

Is olive wood sustainable? 5 reasons that speak for it

Want to know how olive wood fares in terms of sustainability? Then you've come to the right place! Whether as a cereal bowl, chopping board, wooden spoon or knife block - the timeless wood of the gnarled olive tree has long since found its way into our four walls. But it is not only environmentally friendly because it is so timeless!

In this article, I would like to give you some good reasons why and under what circumstances olive wood is sustainable.

You can find a brief overview of the article here in advance. Olive wood is sustainable because/when it...

  1. has a high degree of hardness
  2. is easy to maintain
  3. comes from environmentally friendly cultivation
  4. is regularly maintained
  5. is treated well

1. high degree of hardness

Olive wood is one of the hardest woods in the world and has, for example, twice as much high degree of hardness₁ Its robustness is a key reason why the wood is very durable. A crucial prerequisite for its eco-balance. In addition, it is very cut-resistant and Resistant against scratches, knocks and moisture.

2. easy care

The honey-colored products from Olive wood have another feature that makes them so durable: they are extremely easy to care for. On the one hand, because they have a naturally high proportion of tannins, which the wood antibacterial make it work. In combination with the low odor and liquid absorption cleaning does not require the use of chemical cleaners in order to be able to use it for years.

3. ecological forestry

Olive trees in ecological agriculture and forestry

Olive wood is a renewable resourceThis is a basic requirement for the material of sustainable goods. However, the olive tree does not grow particularly quickly. As a rule, however, the wood also only go on sale when the tree no longer bears fruit - an important aspect in terms of sustainability! The slow growth is even an advantage - because it is the main reason why the wood is ultimately so hard and robust.

Nevertheless, when buying, you should pay attention to the seals of the certification systems Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) pay attention. This ensures that you are buying products whose wood comes from sustainably managed forests and whose production is checked every step of the way, from cultivation to final processing.

In order for the olive wood to be sustainable, it should be processed also Treated in an environmentally friendly way are made. This includes drying over several years as well as natural oiling with organic olive oil.

4. constant care

Olive wood gives your kitchen and other rooms a touch of Mediterranean flair. But as robust as it may be, the ravages of time will of course eventually take their toll on the corresponding products. So that they live as long as possiblethey need to be maintained regularly (depending on the area of use, of course).

Fortunately, there are only a few things to consider. For example, simply clean the chopping board with a soft cloth. Rinsing sponge and a shot of a natural and homemade ivy rinse aidbefore drying it with a cloth.

To preserve the smooth surface and the product itself for as long as possible, it is also best to Once a month clean, allow to dry, and then apply a slightly warmed vegetable oil (e.g. low-odour linseed oil) and a cloth. This simple measure also ensures that the wood does not dry out and remains as beautiful as it is for a long time.

5. good treatment

In order for olive wood to be sustainable, care is one thing - but the general handling of it is another. The cereal bowl or the kitchen board made from the popular wood with the beautiful grain may, for example not cleaned in the dishwasher be used. The risk of the wood cracking and becoming brittle and bending due to the hot, pressurized water would be too great. If this mistake is made just a few weeks after purchasing the product, the sustainability of the product is at risk. 

If olive wood products were treated accordingly well, there is absolutely nothing to prevent them from being used in used or refurbished form at the flea marketin order to create natural Conserve resources - not least because objects made of olive wood are timeless and will last for decades if cared for properly.

So olive wood can be environmentally friendly and sustainable

Olive wood is sustainable if treated with care

So the material olive wood is fundamentally sustainablebecause it is so extremely robust and durable. As long as the products are also of ecological origin and are cared for and treated accordingly at home, they can be used in a truly environmentally friendly and resource-saving way. 

I hope that I have been able to provide you with valuable information about the sustainability of this special wood. Do you have any questions or suggestions? Then I look forward to your comments! 

Stay sustainable,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS: Environmental protection seems to be very important to you too! You already know that, what you can do every day to stop the deforestation of the rainforests can? Find out now in the linked article. Have fun!

References:
₁ Guido Kindler: Wood hardness table according to Brinell, available at https://www.olivenholzprodukte.de/Holzhaerte-Tabelle-nach-Brinell. [19.11.2021].

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Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

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