Taylor Sustainability Articles
Explore articles from Wood&Steel about Taylor’s sustainability-focused efforts below.
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Articles
Inside the History of Brazilian Rosewood Guitars
In celebration of Taylor’s 50th anniversary, we’ve been rolling out a diverse array of commemorative limited-edition models all year. Of all the releases, the most exclusive offering is a pair of Presentation Series guitars boasting backs and sides of venerable Brazilian rosewood.
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Mahogany’s Sprawling Family Tree
Scott Paul unpacks the confusing array of naming conventions associated with mahogany.
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Back to Cameroon: An Ebony Project Update
Four years after their last trip to Cameroon, Scott Paul and Bob Taylor returned and saw firsthand the promising growth of the Ebony Project.
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Conventional Wisdom
After attending the recent international conference for the CITES convention in Panama, Scott Paul reports on how the growing focus on tree species could impact the future of musical instruments.
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Branching Out
As Taylor’s urban wood initiative expands to include red ironbark, Scott Paul explains the value of our work with West Coast Arborists and how eucalyptus trees became so prolific in California.
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Fast Times at Taylor Guitars
Amid a rapidly changing landscape, it’s more important than ever to adapt and innovate.
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Plastic Surgin’
Global plastic pollution is rampant. Scott Paul sheds light on the realities of plastic consumption, the myths of recycling, and what Taylor is doing to reduce its plastic footprint.
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The Ebony Project: Growing Into Phase 2
A decade after buying an ebony mill in Cameroon, our efforts to ensure an ethical ebony supply chain have led to new scientific discoveries and a scalable community planting program that’s on the verge of doubling in size.
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No Finish Line
Our drive to develop better and more eco-friendly guitar finishes demonstrates that environmental stewardship will always be an ongoing effort.
Previous Articles
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Seeing the Urban Forest for the Trees
Scott Paul explains the value of urban trees and how Taylor’s collaboration with a California-based arborist can support the regreening of city and suburban areas.
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Reliable Sources
A closer look at the history of wood selection for guitars and how things have changed.
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Rosewood and CITES
In August of 2019, CITES voted to exempt rosewood musical instruments from requiring CITES permits. Scott Paul was there and explains what it means for instrument makers and owners.
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A Fresh Assessment
Scott Paul traces the technological progress that has enabled the status of wood species to be assessed more accurately and reveals why that’s good news for ebony. Plus, our ebony initiative in Cameroon reaches a new milestone.
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Tracking Progress
Scott Paul shares an update on our work with The Ebony Project in Cameroon, koa reforestation in Hawaii, and the protected status of rosewood.
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Is Our Wood Good?
Are Taylor guitars ethically made? Scott Paul explores this important question based on the different materials that go into a guitar.
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Reforestation: From Politics to Planting
Scott Paul explains why forest restoration and reforestation are becoming major themes within international forest policy circles and how Taylor fits into the conversation with ebony and koa reforestation projects.
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An Ebony Plan Takes Root
Jim Kirlin chronicles Taylor’s six years of work to transform an ebony mill in Cameroon, learn about ebony ecology and developing a planting program. Plus: A preview of Taylor’s new ebony guitar slides.
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Articles
CITES Regulations and a Public-Private Partnership
Scott Paul reports on Taylor’s efforts to amend CITES rosewood regulations and a new public-private partnership agreement with the government of Cameroon to support the replanting of ebony.
Our Projects
Ebony in Cameroon
What began in 2011 with Taylor’s co-purchase of an ebony mill in Yaoundé, Cameroon, has grown into a pioneering research and restoration project focused on West African ebony.
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Urban Trees in California
Making guitars from formerly discarded end-of-life urban trees has the potential to create a circular economy that can support the regreening of city and suburban areas.
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Koa in Hawaii
Our collaborative work as Siglo Tonewoods aims to restore native Hawaiian forests and preserve the future supply of koa for musical instruments.
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