7 Wonders of the Wood Industry

In our pursuit of knowledge, we have come across many interesting facts concerning the overall wood industry. We thought we’d share a few that are especially impressive.  Study these and then see if you can surprise or stump someone else.

1. Wood can be rare. Although it is a renewable resource and widely available, some species of wood are rare. One of the rarest woods in the world is African Blackwood (source). It is challenging to work with because it is very hard and dense. It is also expensive—at $10K per kilogram. This type of wood is mostly used to construct musical instruments.
2. There’s more to wood than its name. Hardwoods and softwoods are distinguished by their structure, not by their strength. Some softwoods, for example, are harder than some hardwoods.
3. Wood is significant to our economy. In the late 13^th century, the timber supply in Europe had dwindled. Colonists making their way to America discovered a land rich in forests. Due to high demand for wood elsewhere, the wood industry in America flourished, forming a solid basis for the American economy.
4. Steam transformed the wood industry. Wood was harvested with hand tools up until the development of steam power in the early 18^th Steam power provided a safer and faster method for harvesting. As the demand for wood exploded, steam trains were used to transport the material. New railroads had to be built to haul wood across the country, which of course, required more wood to construct the ties.
5. Wood is lucrative. The wood industry makes up about 4% of the world’s economy and is worth over $3 trillion worldwide.
6. Wood provides thousands of jobs. As of 2021, there are 89,683 people employed in the Sawmills & Wood Production industry in the U.S. (source)
7. Wood has been used by humans for almost 10,000 years. Due to its wide variety of uses and relative ease of harvesting, it has been used all throughout history. Early humans used wood for tools to accomplish everyday tasks.

Would you like to know more? We’re happy to talk anytime; please contact us for all of your wood packaging and pallet management needs.