Casual furniture retailers seeking to attract new customers by offering a high-quality, reasonably priced alternative to teak now have a new choice from Creative Woodwork International (CWI): eucalyptus. CWI, a privately held U.S. company that imports naturally handsome outdoor wood furniture from Vietnam, now offers its Lifewood furniture in plantation-grown eucalyptus certified according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) environmental standards.

“We constantly research sources of exceptional hardwoods that are in plentiful supply in order to provide retailers with outdoor wood furniture at wholesale prices that consistently average two-thirds less than teak,” says Bernadette Carroll, president of CWI. “Eucalyptus is a wonderful choice. Our plantation-grown eucalyptus meets FSC standards for environmentally responsible management, so it supports our corporate commitment to eco-friendly, sustainably harvested wood alternatives.”

Eucalyptus Grandis is as strong and as durable as teak, and on average it is from 10 to 20 percent more dense. With its density, straight grain, smooth finish, and honey color with subtle rose highlights, Eucalyptus Grandis is a first-rate choice for outdoor wood furniture.

Lifewood from CWI embraces two distinctive collections, Lifeware and Veranda, which bring character and style to outdoor living, at reasonable wholesale prices. With its exclusive and ingenious modular design, Lifeware enables consumers to select and connect individual chair and table modules to create customized seating and dining arrangements. With Lifeware, seven SKUs connect to create more than 50 style configurations. The Veranda Collection features clean lines and simple elegance and includes more than 30 intriguing styles of benches and armchairs, collapsible seating, loungers and deck chairs, café and dining tables, and dining sets.

TROPICAL HARDWOOD COMPARISONS: TEAK & EUCALYPTUS

TEAK: Moderately Durable; Strong; Density Range, 610 - 690 kilograms per cubic meter; Density Average, Average 640 kilograms per cubic meter
         
EUCALYPTUS: Moderately Durable; Strong; Density Range, 600 - 800 kilograms per cubic meter; Density Average 750 kilograms per cubic meter

TECHINICAL DEFINITIONS & SOURCES

Strength – Hardwoods rated as Extremely Strong, Very Strong, Strong or Weak, based on a measurement in pounds per square inch of the working stresses a wood can tolerate.

Durability – Hardwoods rated as Very Durable, Durable, Moderately Durable or Not Durable. Durability relates to the resistance to fungal decay of a wood species. The ratings are based on the average life span of an untreated 50x50 mm section of heartwood (middle of the log) in exterior ground contact.

Density – In general, the greater the density, the greater the exterior resistance, strength and durability. Calculated in kilograms per cubic meter.

Sources: Species of Tropical Hardwood Timber: Principal Uses and their Equivalent Woods (Trade Development Board, Singapore), the Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA), British Timber Research & Development Association, and the Malaysian Timber Industry Board.

ABOUT CREATIVE WOODWORK INTERNATIONAL (CWI)

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., Creative Woodwork International (CWI) is a privately held U.S. company that imports beautiful and enduring outdoor wood furniture from Vietnam. Our manufacturer skillfully crafts our Lifewood furniture with naturally handsome hardwoods, eucalyptus and balau, sourced from plantations and forests certified according to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. Lifewood, including the Veranda and Lifeware collections, provides a superior alternative to meet consumers’ growing demand for distinctive, durable and affordable wood furniture that brings comfort and style to outdoor living areas. More information on CWI, including Lifewood product catalogs and photos, is available at www.creative-woodwork.net.