First of all, what is Killwood?

Killwood is our company name, yes, but it’s derived from Pine Beetle Kill Wood, the main material we use to design quality lifestyle goods.  What’s unique about this material? Where does it come from? Find out below.

Here are the top 3 things you might not know about Killwood:

1) Kill Wood is a result of global warming and contributes to greater global warming.

Cold winters typically keep the Mountain Pine Beetle population in control, but warming temperatures are allowing them to survive and affect healthy trees like never before. When the Mountain Pine Beetle infests trees, their ability to process nutrients is cut off, causing the tree to die. Trees normally absorb CO2 and release oxygen, so when trees die that function is impaired, and the trees release all of their stored CO2 into the atmosphere. As of 2016, the affected trees have released are releasing CO2 emissions equal to 3.7 million cars on the road per year. Our forests have essentially become large parking lots filled with idling cars. So, the result of global warming – the Pine Beetle epidemic- actually ends up contributing to increased CO2 emissions and in effect greater global warming.

2) Kill Wood is not just beautiful, but also very sustainable

To date, there are 18 million hectares of pine trees that have been affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle in British Columbia alone. As we know, these trees release tremendous amounts of CO2 and contribute to global warming. If the trees are not used within 10-12 years, they completely rot and start releasing methane gas, which is 30 times worse than CO2.  So using these trees to create products before they can pollute is an extremely sustainable behavior. This process is called upycling, reimagining a material that would otherwise be waste in a proactive way. Every tree that is upcycled reduces the amount of CO2 that would be released. If reducing CO2 emitting trees wasn’t enough, the use of Kill Wood for product design gives us the opportunity to give back to the forests by planting a new tree for every product sold.

3) Pine Beetle Kill Wood is just as strong as traditional lumber

Contrary to popular belief, Pine Beetle Kill Wood, although a dead material, is just as strong as wood from a pine tree that has not been affected. This means that this material can be utilized for architecture, interior design and product design. Many LEED certified buildings use the material in key parts of the construction. For example, the famous Richmond Olympic Oval features a roof structure made completely with this gorgeous material. Pine Beetle Kill Wood provides a great opportunity to take something negative, and turn it into something very beneficial for our beautiful forests, and for people who love design and sustainability.

Get social with us! Follow Killwood today!