Mango Wood: The affordable, durable, sustainable furniture choice

More than a 20-billion-dollar industry, mango trees are serious business. Generally planted to harvest the delicious fruit we all love, after several years mango trees stop producing and are ready to be cut down.

In the past, retired mango trees were often left to rot, creating unnecessary waste and adding to Co2 emissions. But in today’s age of sustainability consciousness, once the trees retire from their main fruit-bearing job, the wood of the tree is now widely used in furniture making. And for good reason: mango wood is affordable, durable, sustainable and beautiful (not to mention water resistant!).

Grown widely in India, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Brazil and right here in Australia, mango wood is an alternative wood source that is as strong as cherry or ash wood, yet soft and flexible enough that it doesn’t require special tools for manufacturers to work with.

Categorized as a hardwood because of its strength, density and durability—which allows it to keep its high lustre texture for many years—mango wood is most often golden brown in colour, though there are variations of yellow, as well as with black or pink streaks across the surface. That is to say: no two mango wood furniture pieces are the same!

Another perk of mango wood is there is no need to put your love for great style above your love for the environment. Mango wood is becoming a top choice in sustainable furniture because mango plantations tend to harvest the tree for lumber only when the fruiting finishes, and they also replenish and mature much more quickly than oaks and the like.

Today mango farmers can earn extra income by selling their unwanted mango timber to furniture manufacturers. As a byproduct of an already thriving industry, harvesting discarded mango wood is a smart, sustainable choice. Additionally, because mango wood is abundant, costs are driven down, making for an affordable furniture choice as well.

Furnish My Home stocks a variety of mango wood furniture, including dining tables, bench seats, buffets, bedside tables and coffee tables.