Lyptus

Lyptus is the trade name of a wood made from a hybrid of two species of Eucalyptus tree, "Eucalyptus grandis" and "Eucalyptus urophylla". Developed for quick harvesting, and grown on plantations in Brazil, Lyptus is marketed as an environmentally friendly alternative to oak, cherry, mahogany, and other wood products that may be harvested from old growth forests. Lyptus trees can be harvested for lumber in approximately 15 years, much sooner than woods from cooler climates. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Aracruz Lyptus Homepage
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.lyptus.com.br/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-11-27 ]

Lyptus is grown in plantations operated by Aracruz Celulose S.A., and is distributed in North America by Weyerhaeuser. The plantations are located in the Brazilian state of Bahia.

Properties

Lyptus has mechanical properties similar to many hardwoods, and is most often compared to maple. It is a closed-grain wood, and is harder than oak. The high hardness and closed grain structure make it popular for cabinetry, millwork and flooring. The coloration varies from a light salmon to a deeper red. With exposure to UV light, the pigments darken slightly.

Workability

Lyptus is largely marketed as a viable alternative to mahogany. The density and closed, uniform grain structure of lyptus lends well to both milling and machining. It doesn't produce the "fuzzy" raised grain when sawed that mahogany frequently does, and unlike maple, it doesn't have spots of knurled grain that would make it prone to tearout.

Benefits

As a plantation grown wood, use of Lyptus does not deplete old growth forests, which are regarded as valuable havens for biodiversity. Lyptus's fast growth rate ensures that supply stays high, and keeps costs low. The plantation environment also allows for precise control of soil chemistry, tree spacing, and other factors affecting growth, resulting in the highest quantity of quality wood from the smallest space.

Criticism

Aracruz has been criticized in the past for poor relations with indigenous peoples, by strongly supporting legal measures that would give Aracruz land previously designated for indigenous tribes. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Aracruz uses media and billboards to get people against indigenous
work = Independent Media Center
pages =
language = en
publisher = Independent Media Center
date = 2006-10-14
url = http://www.indymedia.org/en/2006/10/848414.shtml
accessdate = 2006-11-27 ] Aracruz has refused to certify their process with the Forest Stewardship Council and related forestry certification programs. Aracruz claims that they do not certify with current programs because they are too limiting, and do not represent realistic practices. However, others feel that their lack of certification is a sign that they are engaging in processes that may not be environmentally friendly.

References

External links

* [http://www.lyptus.com.br Aracruz Lyptus Homepage]
* [http://www.wy.com/ourbusinesses/buildingproducts/lyptus/ Weyerhaeuser Lyptus Homepage]