Ipe’s Sustainability Problems… and the Solutions

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You may be familiar with Ipe as the “King of Woods.” A species with almost unbelievable characteristics- natural resistance to rot, insect attack, and mold with density and hardness comparable to concrete. These features give Ipe and other tropical hardwoods the ability to outlast pretty much everything while providing unrivaled beauty and character. The questions this article will tackle are, ‘Is using Ipe bad for the environment? Does it contribute to deforestation of our rainforests? And is it sustainable?’ But first, for the uninitiated, What is Ipe?