Products made from trees are everywhere, and sometimes you will find them where you least expect it! Use this list to get some ideas about where to look for forest products in your everyday life.
Cellulose is the fibrous tissue that makes up the cells of plants. It is used in paper, rayon, plastics and explosives.
A forest product is any of a variety of items that originate from a resource found in forests.
Gums or resins are viscous plant substances that dry into brittle solids. It is used in a variety of products including varnishes and plastics.
Wood is the fibrous material that composes most of the interior of trees. It is the most well-known of forest products.
Wood
Furniture, baseball bats, toys, cabinets, fences, bowls, handles, picture frames, buildings, poles, railway ties, fuel wood, particle board, matches, toothpicks, flooring, musical instruments, boats, insulation, and pallets.
Paper
Writing paper, newspaper, magazines, books, milk cartons, cardboard boxes, CD liner notes, envelopes, and labels.
Cellulose (wood fibers mixed with other chemicals)
Fabric (rayon and others), carpeting, ping-pong balls, car steering wheels, toothbrush handles, explosives, shampoo thickener, wallpaper paste, eyeglass frames, buttons, cellophane, sausage casings, film, shatterproof glass, sponges, imitation leather, and diapers.
Bark
Cork, tannins for curing leather, landscaping, and fuel.
Gums/resins
Cosmetics, mouthwash, paint thinner, perfumes, soap, coatings for vitamins/other pills, conveyor belts, paint, hoses, tires, glass cement, ice cream, vanilla, and perfume.
Fruit
Edible fruit and nuts, seeds, adhesives, asphalt, cleaners, inks, medicines, and pesticides.
Branches
Floral displays, holiday wreaths, weaving for baskets, mats, and furniture.
Adapted from "Who Needs Trees?" Mt. St. Helens Forest Learning Center.
Forest Learning Center PO Box 188 Longview, WA 98632 (360) 414-3439 mountsthelens.weyerhaeuser.com