Eco Furniture Using Tree Sap and Cedar

Nature-Based Design with Deep Roots in History

In an industry where synthetic materials dominate, New York design studio Earth to People has made a bold debut by crafting an eco furniture collection using tree sap and centuries-old cedar. The studio’s approach merges ancient methods with modern aesthetics, creating furniture that’s as environmentally conscious as it is visually impactful.

The collection, titled Salvage and Sap, includes eight handcrafted pieces of furniture and lighting. Each item is constructed from wind-felled cedar and reclaimed aluminium, consciously sourced from the forests and recycling depots of British Columbia. But what truly sets this collection apart is its use of pure tree sap as an adhesive — a non-toxic alternative to modern synthetic glues.

Reclaiming Ancient Techniques for Modern Living

Founders Jordan and Brittany Weller have a clear vision: to return to ancient craftsmanship and prioritize ecological integrity. Their use of tree sap harks back to methods dating as far as 45,000 years ago, when early humans first discovered sap’s powerful adhesive properties.

“Tree sap is believed to be the first glue,” says the design duo. “We wanted to create furniture that avoided toxic, mass-produced materials and connected us to how objects were originally made.”

The sap is sourced carefully, drawn only from areas on the pine tree where it naturally accumulates. After collection, it’s purified through metal mesh and cheesecloth, resulting in a strong, clean resin. This eco-friendly glue binds pieces of cedar together using wooden dowels, avoiding screws, nails, or synthetic adhesives entirely.

Handcrafted Monoliths from 400-Year-Old Cedar

Among the standout designs is a monolithic chair formed from three massive pieces of cedar hand-planed from a 400-year-old tree. Its brutalist silhouette speaks of permanence and reverence for material, while its connection joints are seamlessly held by the sap and wood dowels.

Another design includes a floor lamp made from shingles of a 300-year-old cedar, bound together with handwoven cedar bark cordage. The pleated lampshade, crafted from timber, represents the designers’ commitment to using every part of the tree, following ancient stewardship principles where nothing is wasted — not even the bark.

The Role of Aluminium: A Nod to Ancient Recycling

Complementing the cedar forms is a series of reclaimed aluminium elements. These include a cylindrical table lamp, an oversized rectilinear sconce, and a hybrid chair that combines cedar and aluminium with a custom cushion made from cotton, hemp, and cedar shavings — a byproduct of the furniture-making process.

“Ancient civilizations understood the value of metal and rarely wasted it,” the Wellers explain. “By sourcing aluminium from local recycling depots, we’re embracing those traditions while diverting waste from landfills.”

The brushed finish of the aluminium offers a refined contrast to the textured cedar, symbolizing the duality of the collection — ancient vs. modern, industrial vs. organic, precision vs. imperfection.

From Forest to Home: Full Transparency in Timber Sourcing: Eco Furniture

Each log used in the collection was air-dried, not kiln-dried, to reduce energy usage. Moreover, logs are GPS-tracked, allowing customers to see exactly where their wood came from — a bold move toward full transparency in material sourcing.

This level of traceability matters deeply to co-founder Jordan Weller, who grew up in British Columbia and has witnessed firsthand the environmental destruction caused by irresponsible logging practices.

“Knowing the origin of the wood fosters a stronger connection between the product, the maker, and the earth,” the duo explains. “It’s about ethical sourcing, yes — but also about storytelling and accountability.”

Architectural Insight: Furniture as Built Micro-Architecture

From an architectural standpoint, each piece in Salvage and Sap behaves almost like a small building. The monolithic chair is a micro-monument to material honesty, echoing the clarity of form seen in brutalist or minimalist architecture. The use of pleated forms in lighting recalls timber cladding, while the joinery mimics traditional timber-frame construction.

The design language blends North American vernaculars — like cabin building and indigenous craft — with modernist ideals of form and function. The avoidance of industrial adhesives and the careful balance of formality and rawness elevate the furniture from product to living architecture.

A Vision That Goes Beyond Trend

At a time when eco furniture is often reduced to marketing buzzwords, Earth to People delivers on true sustainability through material intelligence, historic awareness, and hands-on craftsmanship. Each item feels like a relic from the future — minimal but storied, organic but precise.

Yet the critical point here is that this project cannot be neatly summed up in a single phrase. The work doesn’t just look eco-friendly; it embodies environmental responsibility at every level — material, method, and message.

Earth to People isn’t selling a lifestyle trend — they’re reviving a way of making that honors time, trees, and tradition. That’s not something AI can replicate — it requires human touch, cultural memory, and patience.

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