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Efforts to use wood without waste
The hardwoods used to make furniture are around 100 years old, and sometimes even several hundred years old.
I feel every day that I want to use the blessings of nature, nurtured over long periods of time that are different from the human timescale, without wasting anything and with care.
As someone who works with wood, I believe it's my mission not only to create furniture that can be cherished for a long time, but also to make full use of the scraps and wood waste generated during the process, without wasting any resources.
This will also help reduce the environmental impact for the sake of the future of our planet.
Although our efforts may be small, we would like to introduce the initiatives we are undertaking.
able of contents
1. How much scrap wood and sawdust is generated in the first place?
2. Utilization of wood chips
3. Utilizing wood scraps
How much scrap wood and sawdust are actually produced?
It might be an unfamiliar term, but are you familiar with the word "yield rate" (budomari)?
Yield refers to the percentage of a single log that ultimately becomes a finished wood product.
The yield rate for hardwood products is very low, said to be around 30%.
In other words , about 70% of the logs end up as scraps or wood waste.
Since wood is a natural material, it inevitably has flaws such as knots, cracks, mold, and insect damage.
Furthermore, since hardwood logs are irregularly shaped, often curved, cutting out materials of uniform shape and size inevitably results in a lower yield.
Furthermore, wood differs in color and properties between the central part (heartwood) and the surrounding part (sapwood), and the sapwood is often removed for aesthetic and durability reasons.
Defective parts, sapwood, and pieces with odd dimensions become scraps, and wood shavings are generated during the cutting and shaping process.
Some people may be surprised to hear that so much waste is generated, but scraps and wood waste can be effectively utilized as resources, and wood as a whole is a material that can contribute to carbon neutrality.
Utilization of wood chips
The wood shavings generated during the furniture making process are being utilized for various purposes in the surrounding area.
It is being used as a raw material for compost.
The compost is also blended with other materials such as fallen leaves, coffee beans, rice hulls, and rice bran.
They are working to reduce waste and promote resource recycling.
Compost matures as organic matter is decomposed by microorganisms, becoming an environmentally friendly soil conditioner.
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Alice Riding Club Ranch
Wood chips are scattered in the stables and used as bedding for the horses.
As this wood chips are used, they mix with horse manure and transform into high-quality compost.
Horse manure compost has a particularly high soil improvement effect compared to other livestock manure composts and is used by local farmers.
By utilizing compost, we can reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers used, supporting sustainable agricultural production.
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Dried Goods shop Todorokiya
It is used in the smoking and drying process during the manufacturing of "chicken flakes".
Smoking and drying is a process of drying food by burning firewood.
They apparently use wood shavings from hardwoods (such as cherry and walnut) in conjunction with firewood, and smoke the wood to create a smoke-like effect.
It has the effect of adding a smoky aroma characteristic of smoked foods.
Our workshop uses solid wood (the wood itself), so the wood shavings do not contain impurities, and our products can be used safely in food manufacturing.
Utilization of scrap materials
I'm making wooden eggs using short pieces of scrap wood.
It's great for acupressure, for holding, or even as an interior decoration for Easter.
All the wood used is broadleaf trees grown in Japanese forests.
I hope that people will learn about the diverse types of wood found in Japan and that they will have more opportunities to experience solid wood.
We make good use of scraps of wood that can't be used for making small wooden crafts as firewood. We use it as fuel for our wood-burning stove, and also for camping and barbecues.
Unlike plywood, this is made from solid wood scraps, so it does not produce harmful gases when burned, making it safe to use.
While some pieces may be smaller than commercially available firewood, the wood is thoroughly dried, resulting in excellent firewood with minimal smoke and soot.
While firewood emits carbon dioxide during the burning process, this is offset by the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the tree during its growth, making it considered carbon neutral.
As long as the cycle of cutting down and growing trees is repeated, it can be considered renewable energy.
Furthermore, the remaining ash from the burning process becomes a fertilizer rich in potassium.
It is also used in ash dyeing, a process where wood is stained using a solution of ash dissolved in water.
