Forests yield a diverse array of materials, substances, and goods that support global industry and local livelihoods. Forest products encompass everything from raw logs used in construction to refined chemicals and foods harvested from the forest floor. These outputs are classified into two major categories: those derived from wood and those that are non-wood-based. This classification helps recognize the full economic, environmental, and social value of the world’s forests.
Defining Forest Products
A forest product is defined as any material derived from forestry for direct consumption or commercial use. Products are categorized by the stage of manufacture, distinguishing between materials in their initial state and those that have undergone industrial transformation.
Primary forest products are the direct outputs from the forest, such as wood in the rough, including sawlogs, veneer logs, and pulpwood. They also include materials resulting from the first stage of processing, like sawnwood, wood pulp, and charcoal.
Secondary forest products are created when primary products undergo further manufacturing and processing. Examples include finished goods like furniture, prefabricated wooden buildings, paperboard boxes, and wooden utensils. This distinction is important for tracking the flow of materials from the forest to the consumer.
Products Derived from Wood
Wood products represent the largest economic segment of the forest industry, categorized primarily into structural materials, engineered composites, and pulp-based goods.
Traditional structural materials begin with sawnwood, or lumber, which is timber cut into specific dimensions for construction. This lumber is graded based on its strength and appearance. High-quality grades are suitable for load-bearing components like beams and joists. Lower grades are used for less demanding applications.
Engineered wood products combine wood fibers, veneers, or particles with adhesives to create materials with enhanced strength and dimensional stability. Plywood is manufactured by gluing thin layers of wood veneer with alternating grain direction. Oriented Strand Board (OSB) uses compressed wood strands, offering a cost-effective alternative for sheathing and subflooring.
Mass timber products are also part of this engineered category. Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam) is made by bonding parallel layers of dimensional lumber to create large, strong structural members. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is formed by layering and bonding solid wood panels perpendicular to each other, creating high-strength, prefabricated components for walls and floors.
Pulp-based materials use wood pulp as the raw material for paper and cardboard. Wood chips are cooked with chemicals to break down lignin and separate the cellulose fibers. Coniferous trees are preferred for their longer cellulose fibers, which produce stronger paper products. The resulting pulp is used for writing paper, packaging, filters, textiles, and hygiene products.
Non-Wood Forest Products
The forest yields a vast array of materials that are not timber, collectively known as non-wood forest products (NWFP). These products highlight the forest’s role as a source of food, medicine, and craft materials.
Edible products are a major component of NWFPs, contributing to both subsistence and commercial markets. This category includes wild-harvested foods such as mushrooms, nuts, and berries. Maple syrup is a commercially prominent edible product, derived from the sap of maple trees and concentrated by boiling off water.
Medicinal and aromatic products are derived from the chemical compounds found in specific forest plants and trees. The root of American ginseng is highly valued in traditional medicine, while specific barks and leaves are sources for essential oils like eucalyptus oil. Resins and gums, which are exudates from trees, are also commercially important, used in pharmaceuticals and food additives.
Decorative and craft materials utilize the aesthetic and physical properties of forest flora. Items like moss and floral greens are widely used in the floristry industry for ornamental arrangements. Natural dyes are extracted from various parts of forest plants. These items are often collected locally and support small-scale enterprises that rely on the sustainable management of understory resources.
Sustainable Sourcing and Certification
The sourcing of forest products is heavily influenced by the principle of sustainability. This approach seeks to manage forests for long-term yield without compromising the ecosystem’s health. Sustainable forestry involves practices that balance the needs of the environment, local communities, and economic viability over generations. This ensures that the rate of timber removal does not exceed the forest’s natural growth rate and that biodiversity is maintained.
To verify responsible practices, third-party certification systems have become the global standard for the industry. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are two prominent international organizations. They track wood and non-wood products from the certified forest through the supply chain, a process known as Chain of Custody.
Certification involves independent auditors assessing forest management against strict social, economic, and environmental standards. By choosing products bearing one of these certification labels, consumers can be assured the material was sourced from a forest managed according to recognized sustainability criteria, including respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and protecting high conservation value forests.