They are distinct – what does that mean to your project and to you?
Based on the conversations we have had with customers, there is a good deal of misunderstanding about the difference between salvaged and reclaimed wood . This also applies to the use of salvaged and reclaimed terms while discussing GREEN.
” The bottom line is most anything that is or will be sustainable can carry the “Green” label. We prefer the term sustainable to Green as it is easier to understand and apply.
This also is true of salvaged versus reclaimed. Both meet the sustainable label and therefore are “green”. The difference is also simple; reclaimed is material re-used from its original intended usage. A beam pulled from an old warehouse or dock is ‘reclaimed’ for use in a new setting. It could be cut up, re-shaped or used in any context, but the simple act of re-using fits the “reclaimed” definition.
Salvaged products come from items that were taken/secured because of a need for them to be removed. A simple illustration would be trees removed for a highway or new building. These are then processed into new products such as lumber, siding and/or furniture. This is different from harvesting trees on a commercial basis for resale.
This leads us to the next question; is one better than the other? You need to consider numerous things to understand and apply this. A beam reclaimed in Boston, Maine and shipped to Seattle, Washington is a reclaimed product that would need to be carefully considered to be a “green” product. While it is reclaimed, the cost in environmental terms would be hard to justify. Consequently, salvaging material in Washington and shipping it to Texas for reused again would need to be analyzed for it to be labeled Green.
In most case, green means reusing within 500 miles from its origination point. Whether it is salvaged or reclaimed, the real answer is “can you make use of the product and will it be better/sustainable for the next generation”. I found a short YouTube clip that illustrates the sustainability concept well. It is labeled:
We are making changes to our photo presentation software. You will find some pages without photos.We will bring you new ways to show you the beauty that is in the wood we have saved from destruction. Thank you for being patient!
trophy or engraving service. What sets us apart is in addition to the process of engraving material we can custom craft the product to your needs. We provide stock products like brass, metal and wood plaque but we can also custom craft the materials and sizes that will best serve the message you want to convey.
