A flooring factory in Zimbabwe is taking a unique approach to sourcing sustainable wood—by collecting trees toppled by elephants. Cape Town, South Africa-based Zuberi Flooring and Harare, Zimbabwe-based Pride of Africa teamed up with local communities to source wood from their forests. The idea emerged from the need to balance traditional logging with forest conservation, says Steven Suntup, a United States-based representative for the companies. “Elephants in this region have a natural tendency to push over trees,” Suntup says. “Rather than logging new trees, we decided to collect the ones that have already been brought down by these majestic animals.” To locate the wood, the companies utilize drones and ground scouts. Despite the hazards of working in a forest where elephants and occasional lions roam, Suntup says wildlife typically avoid humans during the logging process. The elephant-toppled trees are used to create the factory’s long-length, wide-board engineered Monument Range in three species: Zimbabwean teak, African mukwa and African rosewood. The factory maximizes every part of the tree: Smaller branches are processed for the central core of the engineered flooring, longer logs are used for the top wear layer, and sawdust is repurposed as kindling for the drying kilns. The approach underscores the factory’s commitment to sustainability, turning every fallen tree into a valuable resource.
Those interested in distributing the flooring or learning more can contact Suntup at [email protected] or (949) 386-0520. Click here to watch a video about the flooring line.
The elephant-toppled trees are used to create the factory’s long-length, wide-board engineered Monument Range in three species: Zimbabwean teak, African mukwa and African rosewood.Courtesy of Zuberi Flooring.
