Taylor Sustainability Articles
Explore articles from Wood&Steel about Taylor’s sustainability-focused efforts below.
-
Articles
Mahogany’s Sprawling Family Tree
Scott Paul unpacks the confusing array of naming conventions associated with mahogany.
-
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
Fast Times at Taylor Guitars
Amid a rapidly changing landscape, it’s more important than ever to adapt and innovate.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
No Finish Line
Our drive to develop better and more eco-friendly guitar finishes demonstrates that environmental stewardship will always be an ongoing effort.
-
Articles
Seeds of Change in a Changing World
In an age of climate change, growing the right tree in the right place is more important than ever. Here’s why.
Previous Articles
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
Reliable Sources
A closer look at the history of wood selection for guitars and how things have changed.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
Articles
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.
-
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.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
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.
Learn More