Sustainability & Our Materials

Our products are made from five materials: FSC-certified oak veneered MDF, FSC-certified Moso bamboo (certificate RINA-COC-001256), solid oak, birch plywood and natural slate. Everything is laser-engraved to order in our workshop in Buckley, North Wales, with no inks, and packed without plastic. This page sets out what each material is, how it is certified, how long it lasts and what happens to it at the end of its life, without overstating anything. I'm Pete, and I make every order myself.

Made to order, made in North Wales

Every item is laser-engraved to order in our own workshop in Buckley, Flintshire. Nothing is mass-produced and we hold no surplus stock, so we don't overproduce or send unsold goods to landfill. Offcuts and sawdust from production go to our council recycling facility in Buckley rather than general waste.

All items are made to order. Dispatch time is shown at checkout. UK orders via Royal Mail Tracked 24. International via Royal Mail International Tracked.

Our materials: sustainability, longevity and engraving quality

We choose each material for a specific reason, and none of them wins on every measure. Here is how we think about it: is it certified, how long does it last, and how well does it take a laser.

Sustainability

Is it FSC chain-of-custody certified at source, or otherwise genuinely low-impact, not just "natural".

Longevity

Does it need replacing in five years, or does it outlast the person who bought it.

Engraving quality

How consistently it takes a laser: grain, resin content and density all change the result.

FSC certified at source

Oak veneered MDF

SustainabilityFSC chain-of-custody certified through our supplier's certification, made largely from wood residues and small logs.
LongevityStable indoors, but cannot be used anywhere it will get damp or wet, indoors or out. Not for bathrooms, steamy kitchens or outdoor use.
EngravingThe most consistent of everything we use, with no grain to interrupt the burn, which is why it is our default for detailed personalised work.
Is MDF sustainable? →
Not currently certified

Solid oak (Block range)

SustainabilityNot FSC-certified in our supply chain, and we say so plainly.
LongevityThe longest-lived wood we use. It moves a little with the seasons but recovers, and can be sanded and re-oiled.
EngravingHigh contrast with natural grain: the most premium finish we offer.
MDF vs plywood vs solid wood →
FSC certified · RINA-COC-001256

Moso bamboo

SustainabilityThe fastest-growing material we use, with culms harvested at three to five years old against decades for oak, and FSC chain-of-custody certified through our supplier's certificate, RINA-COC-001256.
LongevityWater-resistant in both thicknesses. Outdoor use depends on thickness and fixing: a 3mm piece hung loosely can swing and knock in the wind, but tied securely against a solid structure, such as a gate cross beam, it copes. Don't drill and bolt 3mm bamboo, as that concentrates stress at the hole and can split it. Our 5mm premium pieces, in the bamboo range, are the more robust choice, including for drilled fixings. Any bamboo left outdoors will green without regular cleaning. Why we made the 5mm range →
EngravingRich, dark results with natural variation between strips. It needs stronger air assist than our other materials because of its sticky smoke.
Bamboo vs oak vs plywood →
Not currently certified

Birch plywood

SustainabilityNot FSC-certified in our supply chain. Plywood as a category can be; it depends on the supplier.
LongevityCross-grain layers resist splitting and everyday knocks. We use it for small indoor pieces such as bookmarks, tokens and tags, which should be kept dry.
EngravingClean, light-toned results with the low-glue laser grades we use.
MDF vs plywood vs solid wood →
No FSC scheme for stone

Natural slate

SustainabilityLow energy to process, but quarrying has real environmental costs, FSC can't certify stone, and our slate carries no environmental certification.
LongevityThe clear winner. Chemically inert and essentially permanent, and the most sustainable thing a material can do is never need replacing.
EngravingEngraved, not cut, and takes a laser cleanly for personalised coasters.
Is slate sustainable? →

FSC-certified Moso bamboo (certificate RINA-COC-001256)

Our bamboo products are made from Moso bamboo supplied by a manufacturer that holds FSC chain-of-custody certification (certificate RINA-COC-001256). Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that regrows from its roots after harvest. We offer it in two thicknesses: our original 3mm range and a 5mm premium range. 3mm copes outdoors only when tied securely against a solid structure (never drilled and bolted, which risks splitting it), while 5mm is the more robust choice generally, including for hanging designs and drilled fixings. The 5mm range currently covers door hangers and keyrings. To be precise: our FSC-certified Moso bamboo (certificate RINA-COC-001256) is certified at source through our supplier. Cherry Grove Craft is not itself an FSC certificate holder, so we don't apply the FSC logo to finished products.

FSC-certified oak veneered MDF

Most of our signs, badges and keyrings are made from 4mm oak veneered MDF from a UK supplier (Laserply, Daisymoon Designs Ltd): a real oak veneer over an engineered wood core. It gives a consistent, warm finish and engraves crisply. It is FSC-certified at source through our supplier's FSC chain-of-custody certification (meeting standards FSC-STD-40-004 and FSC-STD-50-001). As with all our materials, Cherry Grove Craft is not itself an FSC certificate holder, so we don't apply the FSC logo to finished products. We describe it as oak veneered MDF, not solid oak, so you know exactly what you are buying. It cannot tolerate damp or wet conditions, indoors or out.

Solid oak and birch plywood

Our freestanding "Block" range is 20mm solid oak. We also use birch plywood for smaller pieces such as bookmarks, tokens, swing tags and some keyrings and baubles. Both are named as such wherever they are used, and neither is FSC-certified in our supply chain.

Check our certifications yourself

FSC certificates are publicly searchable. Search the bamboo certificate code RINA-COC-001256 on FSC's public database to see the holder, scope and expiry date; our FSC chain of custody guide shows how. For who makes each material, see where our materials come from.

Finishes and glues

Where a finish is applied, we use Danish oil (Furniture Clinic), a penetrating oil finish, on oak products. Bamboo is left with its natural surface and is not oiled by us. Bamboo can be oiled, and a UV-protective bamboo oil or sealer will slow, though not prevent, outdoor discolouration if you want to maintain a 5mm bamboo piece yourself, but it isn't a service we offer. Any assembly uses a water-based wood glue (Titebond). We don't use spray lacquers. Read more about Danish oil's food safety for coasters and keyrings.

Plastic-free packaging

Orders are packed without plastic: cardboard boxes or mailers, paper tape, and tissue paper for padding, with jute string on hanging products. The non-wood parts of some products are functional: metal pin and clip fittings and magnets on name badges, and, where we supply lanyards, recycled rPET lanyards made from recycled plastic bottles with a metal clip. Those lanyards are recycled rather than plastic-free, and we say so.

Recycling and end of life

Different materials have different end-of-life routes, and we would rather explain that than make a blanket claim:

  • Solid oak is untreated or oiled timber: it can be reused, and it breaks down naturally.
  • Oak veneered MDF, laminated bamboo and birch plywood are bonded with resin or glue, so they are not compostable or kerbside-recyclable. Keep and reuse them, or take them to the wood skip at a household waste recycling centre, such as our local one in Buckley.
  • Natural slate is inert and can be crushed for aggregate.
  • Metal split rings, pins and magnets can be recycled with household metals.
  • Recycled rPET lanyards can be recycled again where textile or rPET recycling is available.

What we do not claim

For the record: we are not carbon-neutral certified, we are not ourselves an FSC certificate holder (so we don't put the FSC logo on finished products), and our engineered boards are not compostable. What we can stand behind: FSC-certified oak veneered MDF and FSC-certified Moso bamboo (certificate RINA-COC-001256), plastic-free packaging, an oil finish rather than lacquer, water-based glue, made-to-order production with no overstock, and locally recycled offcuts, all from our workshop in North Wales.

All the research, in one place

Frequently asked questions

Is your bamboo FSC-certified?
Yes. Our bamboo is FSC-certified Moso bamboo (certificate RINA-COC-001256), certified at source through our supplier. We are not ourselves an FSC certificate holder, so we don't put the FSC logo on finished items.

Is your oak FSC-certified?
Our oak veneered MDF is FSC-certified at source through our supplier's chain-of-custody certification. Our solid oak Blocks are not FSC-certified. FSC certification covers where the wood came from, not recyclability: the MDF core still has a resin binder, so it isn't compostable.

Can oak veneered MDF be used anywhere damp, like a bathroom?
No. It cannot tolerate damp or wet conditions, outdoors or indoors with steam or condensation. Choose bamboo for anywhere moisture is a factor.

Can bamboo be used outdoors?
5mm bamboo can, including hanging designs and drilled fixings. 3mm bamboo copes outdoors only when tied securely at several points against a solid structure, never hung loosely or bolted. Bamboo left outdoors will green without regular cleaning.

Can bamboo be oiled?
Yes. A UV-protective bamboo oil or sealer, reapplied every 6–12 months, slows outdoor discolouration but won't stop it, and regular cleaning matters more. We don't offer oiling or sealing as a service.

Which of your materials lasts longest?
Slate, by a clear margin: it is chemically inert and essentially permanent. Solid oak is the longest-lived of our woods, since it can be sanded and re-oiled.

Which material engraves best?
Oak veneered MDF gives the most consistent results because it has no grain to interrupt the laser. Solid oak and bamboo give a more natural, higher-contrast finish at some cost to consistency.

What is the difference between your 3mm and 5mm bamboo?
3mm bamboo is strong but can split if it is able to swing and knock, or if it is drilled for a fixing. 5mm is thicker, more resistant to splitting, and the better choice for hanging designs, drilled fixings and rougher handling. It is available on selected door hangers and keyrings.

Is your packaging plastic-free?
Yes. We pack with cardboard, paper tape and tissue paper. The only non-paper elements are functional badge fittings, magnets and recycled rPET lanyards where ordered.

Are your products plastic-free?
They have no plastic sheet, film or coating, but MDF and laminated bamboo are bonded with a synthetic resin or glue, some badges use metal fittings and magnets, and lanyards are recycled plastic (rPET). So we describe them precisely rather than as fully plastic-free.

Can your products be recycled or composted?
Solid oak breaks down naturally. Oak veneered MDF, laminated bamboo and birch plywood are bonded with resin or glue, so they are not compostable or kerbside-recyclable; reuse them or take them to a recycling centre's wood skip.

What happens to your wood waste?
Offcuts and sawdust go to our council recycling facility in Buckley, Flintshire. Because everything is made to order, we also avoid the waste of unsold stock.

Read more about replacing plastic staff badges, browse the bamboo range, or see how we make our products. The full certified range is in FSC-certified wooden gifts and business products.