Why is eco-friendly decking so on trend?

Sustainability is consistently on the rise, and these days, the term ‘eco-friendly’ is more often than not a significant contributor when deciding on materials in the project planning stage.

Since the '90s, composite decking has been a part of the material market. Although still a relative newcomer to the industry, Futurewood from the team at Mulford New Zealand, has seen the material rise in demand as climate change becomes a bigger part of our build conversation. As we unravel composite decking versus wood, we talk to Andy of Futurewood and how eco-friendly building materials are paving the way for the future of materials in construction.

Composite decking is an innovative material that provides a revolutionary approach to traditional forest timber decking. Harking many benefits, Futurewood is there to maximise your deck's durability, sustainability and longevity without sacrificing aesthetics. 

One of the most significant benefits of composite decking lies in its low maintenance promise. Unmatched resistance to traditional wood's worst enemies, from rot and mould to insects and warping, makes for incredible durability that allows you to bid farewell to regular replacements. “Unlike natural products, Futurewood stands by our 15-year 100% replacement warranty and is very low maintenance. It’s green, it has a consistent design and a consistent colour choice,” says Andy. With this in mind, staining, sealing and sanding stay as tasks of the past, saving on energy to maintain and long-term costs associated with deck maintenance. 

Now ten years in the industry, Futurewood recognised the importance of introducing eco-friendly materials to the market before the climate change conversation really got started. “We recognised the product in other countries with overseas trade shows, and with New Zealand’s ‘green’ outdoor lifestyle, the product seemed to be a perfect fit; by using recycled materials, there’s no such thing as deforestation with our manufactured product.” 

Futurewood’s composite decking is a fabrication of 100% recycled materials, made up of recycled HDPE plastic (old milk bottles), wood fibre and discarded rice husks, thus bringing eco ideologies to the forefront of your home (or the back, technically) to truly embrace your outdoor area. “By substituting some of the HDPE for Rice Husk, we have been able to reduce the expansion and contraction rates of Futurewood. Rice husk has a very low water absorption rate,” perfect for ensuring the low maintenance guarantee. 

“Futurewood’s composition was developed in Australia, and is now being used throughout New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea.”

At the end of the day, we all know it's largely down to aesthetics. Futurewood’s colour palette of natural neutrals from Walnut to Sandstone, Mahogany, Slate Grey, Ash Grey and Salt Bush brings a palette of possibilities, whether you envision the warm, earthy tones of traditional timber decking. Or, if you're feeling a little more daring, the embossed texture of composite decking mimics the feel of natural timber, providing depth and character to the surface but leaving the splintering behind, allowing you to embrace the natural beauty of real wood's aesthetic appeal whilst promising to stand the test of time. 

Composite decking stands as a testament to the ever-evolving construction industry, bringing innovation in technology to the forefront. With a promise of durability, sustainability, a low-maintenance nature, and a streamlined aesthetic, Futurewood composite decking is becoming an increasingly popular choice for home builders.

Discover more about Futurewood on ArchiPro.