Umwelt

Only premium plantation grown teak is used for Gloster furniture. While teak trees are not indigenous to Indonesia, climatic conditions on Java are ideal for growing this species of tree. Teak was originally introduced to the islands by Buddhist monks, some 700 years ago. When the Dutch colonised Indonesia in the 19th Century, they soon realized the opportunity to establish large plantations and introduced the sustainable plantation management systems that are still in use today.

Teak plantations are really no different than any other crop, except the growing cycle is far longer - 60 years or more from planting to harvesting. Within the plantations, the trees are continuously cared for by the local population and over their lifetime the trees are regularly pruned and the integrity of the plantations carefully maintained. This ultimately results in a better quality of timber - healthier wood, straighter grain and with less knots. Ideal for use in outdoor furniture.

We work continually with the managers of the government owned plantations and other interested parties to ensure that everything to do with our use of Teak is environmentally correct. We also take great care that all our manufacturing activities follow good environmental practices for the good of both our own employees and the people of the local communities.

For further information on teak and the Indonesian plantations, refer to our Teak FAQs.