by P. Rieutord, owner and manager "One of my priorities is to use woods that have not been and do not need to be treated. Some species are naturally suited to certain uses, others simply not. I do not wish to encourage the preventive treatment of wood. I also never use any staining. Colours are the one of the wood itself, which can change from a tree to another, in the same specie. This is nature work. Lastly, as I mainly use naturally oily woods, where the touching feeling is part of the pleasure of my fittings, everything I offer is finely sanded, but do not come with any lacquer or wax. Making furniture for humid environments request a very high quality level in wood sourcing, that takes a main part in my strategy. This is a true added value I offer. I benefit from partner relationships - not client only - with the very few suppliers I have selected. Original growing region, quality of the tree, part of the tree used appropriate with usage (plain, quarter sawn...), drying method, and certification are my criteria. This is why I do not offer all wood species. Finally, the hygrometric rate of the wood is tested upon reception considering the future usage. Reclaimed FSC supplied Teak - 70 years dried For contemporary Teak (old Teak and FSC: see below), I supply from Burmese Teak, whose qualities have been long time approved by all shipyards worldwide. This Teak has been reliable at any time, on all seas, latitudes, and with all weather conditions (the hot like the freezing, wet like dry). Contrary to much of Teaks, which unfortunately only have the same scientific name - Tectona grandis, but are of poor or average quality, this Teak is naturally very oily from the environment where it grows and the way it is exploited. It comes with high levels of oleoresin and silica, which bring the qualities sought for the desired use. Last, its slow maturation allows high density, that cannot be obtained with plantation Teaks. This Teak is MTE certified to my suppliers, i.e. it comes from the legal cuts managed by the Myanmar Timber Enterprise, the government agency in charge of the forest resource. Regarding the quality used for most of the workshop projects, it is first choice grading: F.E.Q. (First European Quality). This information regarding the origin and quality of the Teak used is always individually specified for each project. All these selection criteria are implemented to ensure the first quality fittings and furniture you deserve. As an alternative to this traditional but selected supplying scheme, I try to offer a solution that is not only environmentally free, but that also have a big focus on the social aspects of wood trading, a solution that includes controls. From my journeys abroad, in tropical and southern countries, environments that I enjoyed so much, I feel utterly concerned by the preservation of these paradises. Everyone certainly shares this opinion. Fauna, flora, and indigenous population are a part of a whole, which explains why we experience such unique pleasures there. And they are the Earth's lung. Reclaimed FSC supplied Teak - 70 years dried Taking into account my professional field of competence, I am thus looking for solutions to bring you, which are more in adequacy with this idea that we share. Idea that we often forget once we are constructing our own home here, in our economically developed countries. Teak, Ipe, and other tropical woods, many species are overexploited to answer the growing demand of the market that has become worldwide. There are systems that allow final customers to be sure that the wood fittings or furniture they buy comply with sustainable forest management. This so-called 'sustainable forest management' is not only a question of flora, but also fauna and respect of indigenous population who is employed at the different stages of wood cut and transformation. This is true for the first step that is forest management companies, but also for all steps that are the chain of custody companies, which all need to be certified in order to get the final wood or product certified itself. Each company needs to be audited every year, which provides them with a certification number with an expiry date, hence assuring constant control of these companies. Any customer can request proofs of certification from these companies. Furthermore, these elements must appear in all documentation (orders and invoices). In addition to these environmental aspects, this certification allows us to fight against wood smuggling, which can be huge in some of the countries where these species grow - often economically and politically unstable. Even if my workshop is not certified yet, I offer to supply FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood from FSC certified companies. The picture on the right shows a batch of certified wood at my workshop, used to make outdoor fittings. As none of the species that I use is available with certification in France, except on huge volumes, I then directly manage the import from abroad. FSC supplied Tatajuba wood - Outdoor fittings purpose For my main timber, Asian Teak, I even created my own supply chain. With a double interest: this wood is not only ecologically and socially certified, but also 100% reclaimed certified. Of course, this supplying scheme is not costless and timeless. My wish: to bring you a customised service that matches your expectations and way of thinking, not only architectural and conceptual, but also ethical."