Sustainable Materials in Biophilic Design: Reclaimed Wood

There is a major flaw in the way many people understand biophilic design and sustainability; they believe that these two concepts are naturally linked. They are not. You can take virgin timber from an old-growth forest and use it to create a biophilic space that has a natural appearance but has harmed actual nature in the process of creating it. You can also install a living wall using plants produced in resource-intensive monoculture farming systems, and have created a biophilic illusion which supports unsustainable agricultural practices.

I am a designer of biophilic spaces and have worked with this concept for the past 15 years, and my honest assessment of the subject is that the vast majority of biophilic design claims to connect people with nature, and instead disconnect people from the very real implications of those connections. The answer is not to reject biophilic design altogether; it is to pair biophilic design with genuine sustainability; reclaimed wood is the place where that pairing will become tangible and measurable.

Approximately 90% of all time spent indoors is driving demand for the sensory experience of reclaimed wood’s grain, patina, and fractals. People want to be connected to nature in their workplaces, homes, and public spaces; that is a true and valid desire. The question is whether we can fulfil that desire with materials that truly honour nature, or materials that only mimic the appearance of nature.

The Ecological Cost of Using Virgin Timber in Biophilic Design

Virgin timber (timber that is cut from living forests for the first time) carries ecological costs that most designers do not consider. Logging operations require infrastructure to fragment ecosystems; transportation of the log produces emissions as carbon is transported across the globe; processing plants consume large amounts of energy and water; even so-called “sustainably harvested” timber contains significantly more embodied carbon than reclaimed wood.

On average, reclaimed wood reduces energy and extraction required to produce the same amount of wood by 50 to 80%. That is not a marketing claim; that is a measurable environmental result. Since reclaimed wood is made from wood that was previously harvested, processed, and used, you are not removing additional trees during the harvest. You are not running additional logging equipment. You are not transporting additional logs across the ocean. You are using existing material stock.

Ironically, biophilic design is intended to provide a psychological and physiological connection to nature. However, if that design utilises materials that are sourced through practices that damage ecosystems, then the entire premise of biophilic design falls apart. You may be creating the sensation of connecting to nature, but you are supporting the destruction of nature.

How Reclaimed Wood Actually Functions Physiologically

The science surrounding wood and human well-being is clear-cut. Reclaimed wood reduces blood pressure and heart rates relative to steel, as documented by the Journal of Wood Science. This is not poetry; this is a measurable physiological change. Wood surfaces within your visual field will decrease your physiological stress.

There are two main reasons why wood functions as a physiologic stress reducer; one is related to psychology—you tend to react positively to natural materials—and the other is related to physics. Wood’s fractal patterns, grain variations, and colour complexity create visual stimulation that calms the nervous system. Fractals in wood, regardless of species, are universally soothing, decreasing stress and complementing both plants and light to enhance biophilia. The fractals are not merely visually appealing; they are neurologically calming in a manner that smooth surfaces are not.

Additionally, reclaimed wood has an added layer of this effect due to its weathered, patinated, and visibly aged condition, which provides increased visual stimulation compared to new wood. Knots, colour variations, and markings from prior use are not imperfections; they are unique visual stimuli that contribute to the calming effect of reclaimed wood.

Productivity and Well-being Increases with Biophilic Wood

Studies demonstrate that biophilic wood enhances productivity by 8 percent, and wellbeing by 13% in office settings. The reclaimed variant enhances the biophilic experience through the authentic ageing of the reclaimed wood. At the organisational level, the ability to increase productivity by 8% in a 100-person office is a significant production increase; the ability to increase wellbeing by 13% is a significant reduction in absenteeism and an increase in employee retention.

Sustainability Benefits Beyond Carbon Footprint

Whilst the conversation regarding wood and sustainability primarily centres on carbon footprint, there are several other benefits to sustainability that reclaimed wood offers that virgin wood does not.

Waste Reduction. Billions of board feet of usable wood ends up in landfills every year. Barns are demolished. Old buildings are knocked down. Shipping pallets are thrown away. All of this wood is still structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. Salvaging reclaimed wood prevents this usable material from ending up in a landfill.

No Virgin Harvesting. Diverting millions of board feet yearly reduces environmental impacts associated with energy consumption and resource extraction by a significant margin. By not harvesting new timber, you are not fragmenting forests. You are not displacing wildlife. You are not developing logging infrastructure. Your environmental footprint is much smaller.

Chemical-Free Finishes. New wood is commonly treated with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are released into the indoor air. Whilst low-VOC finishes are essential, reclaimed wood stores carbon, cleanses the air, and regulates humidity to improve indoor environmental quality. This affects the health of employees; it affects the comfort of employees; and it affects the true biophilic experience of having a physical and visual connection to nature rather than merely experiencing a visual representation of nature.

Social and Emotional Aspects

In addition to carbon footprint and chemistry, reclaimed wood has an emotional and social aspect that new materials lack. Wood-based environments support 15 percent greater collaboration and social interaction, and the patina of reclaimed wood evokes emotional associations with geography. This represents the human side of the choice of materials.

When you enter a space that incorporates reclaimed wood, you are not merely viewing wood. You are viewing history. You are viewing materials that have developed over decades or even centuries. You are viewing signs of use. This creates a sense of continuity and authenticity that new materials find difficult to replicate. Therefore, organisations seeking to demonstrate stability and alignment with values will see great value in incorporating reclaimed wood.

Office spaces in urban locations utilising reclaimed wood evoke the industrial heritage of the location and increase perceived habitability of the space by 20 to 30%. The latter is not subjective; it is measurable. People perceive spaces with reclaimed wood as more attractive, as more emotionally connected to the organisation’s values, and as more indicative of thoughtful decision making.

Practical Sourcing and Specifications

One of the challenges of working with reclaimed wood is that it requires more planning and coordination than working with virgin wood. Because you cannot standardise the specifications of reclaimed wood in the same way that you can with new lumber, the supply of reclaimed wood is variable. In addition, the characteristics of reclaimed wood can vary. However, this variability is the key to design advantages.

Possible sources of reclaimed wood include salvage operations (demolition of buildings), architectural salvage companies (companies specialising in recovering old wood), and material reuse networks. Typically, the reclaimed wood originates from old barns, factories, homes, or deconstructed structures. Reclaimed wood from ships and barrels has historically utilised white oak for its durability; modern thin veneers offer flexible, sustainable substrate options for contemporary applications.

Durability

A legitimate concern when using reclaimed wood is durability. The Janka scale measures hardness (for example, white oak) is harder than red. Reclaimed options range from softer flooring to more durable panelling. Different types of reclaimed wood have different durability ratings. White oak reclaimed from barns or whiskey barrels is extremely durable; softer reclaimed woods should be specified carefully for high-traffic applications. However, this variability provides designers with an opportunity to choose the right type of material for a particular application, rather than using one generic material for all applications.

Cost Considerations and Budgeting

As a rule, reclaimed wood is more expensive than virgin timber at the point of sale. This is the main argument that most project managers will cite against the use of reclaimed wood. However, this argument overlooks the full cost picture.

First, reclaimed wood has more aesthetic value than virgin wood. You do not need to apply additional finish or treatments to create visual appeal; the patina and variation in reclaimed wood are inherent. This results in cost savings in labour and materials. Additionally, reclaimed wood is generally more durable than virgin wood; wood that has already been exposed to the elements for decades will typically outperform virgin wood in subsequent applications.

Finally, the perceived value of reclaimed wood is sufficient to justify a premium price in a way that virgin wood cannot. For example, the cost of reclaimed wood in a mid-sized office renovation could be 15 to 20% of total material costs; however, the perceived value difference between a typical office and a thoughtfully-designed biophilic space would be 40 to 50%. A reasonable ROI calculation would account for the measurable productivity improvements, the increased recruitment value, and the enhanced client perceptions.

Avoiding Greenwashing: What Reclaimed Wood Is Not

Reclaimed wood is not a panacea for poor design. You can use reclaimed wood in a poorly-lit room lacking living plants and generating environmental stress through poor design decisions. The reclaimed wood becomes a decorative veneer masking subpar design. That is greenwashing.

Authentically Sustainable Biophilic Design requires integrating reclaimed wood with other biophilic elements such as natural light, living plants, acoustics, and sensory variety. Authentically Sustainable Biophilic Design means designing entire environments for both wellness and sustainability, and not simply tacking on sustainable materials as an afterthought.

The global biophilic design market is expected to reach £3.14 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2%, and reclaimed wood is capable of meeting green certification requirements such as LEED without the use of toxic chemicals. This market growth will also lead to an explosion of greenwashing claims; more companies claiming biophilic design when they are simply adding plants; more projects using “sustainable” materials without a genuine environmental commitment; and reclaimed wood requires a genuinely integrated approach to design.

Research Foundation

The literature contains 603 citations referencing biophilic architecture reviews demonstrating that wood contributes to the health of humans through natural variability. This is not fringe science; this is mainstream research across psychology, neuroscience, and architecture that demonstrates that wood in built environments has a direct positive impact on human health.

The universality of this research across various populations, climates, and contexts suggest that wood’s biophilic effect is intrinsic to human response, and not culturally dependent. People from diverse backgrounds respond positively to wood-based environments. This suggests that the evolutionary psychology model; humans are programmed to respond to natural materials because our ancestors lived in natural materials.

Market Trends and Timeline

The 310k #biophilicdesign Instagram posts signal a 2025 trend surge, with reclaimed wood at the centre of authenticity. Biophilic design has transitioned from a niche design philosophy to mainstream market trend. Organisations are investing in biophilic design. Consumers are demanding biophilic design. The market potential is substantial.

Within that trend, reclaimed wood is becoming the standard for differentiation in biophilic design. New biophilic projects incorporate reclaimed wood because it indicates authenticity and a commitment to sustainability. Sales for retail products featuring green elements are increasing by 12%, with wood providing an emotional draw beyond other surfaces. For retail spaces specifically, the business case for using reclaimed wood is evident; it increases sales and improves brand perception.

Implementation Strategy

Organisations interested in incorporating reclaimed wood into their biophilic design should implement a phased-in approach to the use of reclaimed wood. Begin with focal-point applications; reception areas, conference rooms, break spaces. These areas have the greatest visibility and allow the organisation to assess supply chain and craftsmanship without committing to full-scaled incorporation.

Designate reclaimed wood where its visual effect is greatest. Use feature walls, desks, architectural elements. Use background elements (veneer, etc.) in less prominent areas to maximise the biophilic effect whilst controlling costs.

Engage with reclaimed wood suppliers early in the design process; do not wait until later. Availability of reclaimed wood is seasonal and varied depending upon the supplier. Building supply chain constraints into the design planning process eliminates the risk of disappointing outcomes, allowing designers to create material-driven designs rather than force-fit reclaimed wood into specifications written for virgin wood.

Conclusion: Alignment vs. Aesthetics

Reclaimed wood is non-toxic and satisfies biophilic health tenets, and the patina of barnwood enhances the biophilic effect over clean timber. This is the true value proposition. Biophilic design that incorporates reclaimed wood is not merely creating aesthetically pleasing environments; it is creating genuine connections between occupants and nature based on a genuine commitment to sustainability.

This alignment of values and materials; design intent and environmental impact; is what distinguishes thoughtful biophilic design from green-washing trends. Reclaimed wood enables that alignment to be measured and visible. Reclaimed wood is the material choice that allows designers to assert a genuine commitment to sustainability without compromising on the biophilic effect.