Îpe is a beautiful hardwood from Brazil’s Amazon forest that is popular as a premium decking material. There are social, moral and sustainable reasons why you should not buy Îpe. Click here to read the Green Peace documentation of the tragedy of this beautiful wood: “Blood Stained Timber – Rural Violence and The Theft of Amazon Timber”.
For an environmentally responsible replacement for Îpe, take a look at Kebony wood. KEBONY is processed softwood that comes out as hard, durable and richly beautiful outdoor wood that totally competes with Îpe and other hardwoods. Developed in Norway, the Kebony technology is an environmentally friendly, patented process that enhances the properties of sustainable softwood with a bio-based liquid and a unique “cooking” process. The process permanently modifies the wood cell walls giving Kebony premium hardwood characteristics and a rich brown colour. It installs twice as fast as Îpe, is highly durable, and requires no maintenance beyond normal cleaning. Recently, with long-term performance studies surpassing expectations, Kebony upgraded its warranty from 25 to 30 years. Parks and boardwalks are replacing pressure treated wood with Kebony wood as an economical long-lasting alternative.
The Canadian distributor of Kebony wood is North on Sixty in Ontario. This is one decking material that you should add to your research for that new deck or any outdoor wood.