The teak on your terrace: does it come from a democratically managed forest or uncontrolled deforestation?
Garden furniture is one of the segments where the origin of wood has the greatest geopolitical and environmental impact. Teak (Tectona grandis) is the most popular wood for quality outdoor furniture. And its production is geographically concentrated in countries with very different EIU scores.
Myanmar (EIU 1.90) was for decades the world's largest teak producer. The EU banned Burmese timber imports in 2021 — but Burmese teak continues entering Europe through intermediaries in third countries. Myanmar's EIU score reflects a military junta that seized power in 2021.
Indonesia (6.30) produces plantation teak, right at Democratic Market's threshold. Its teak forests in Java are the world's largest outside Myanmar, but forest management has a history of irregularities. FSC certification for Indonesian teak has been the subject of controversy.
Costa Rica (8.00), Honduras (5.90 — blocked), and Panama (7.35) produce Central American plantation teak. Costa Rica clears the threshold; its teak has FSC chain of custody certification with greater reliability.
This article analyses how to identify garden furniture with democratically sourced wood and which brands guarantee that chain.
The problem: garden furniture wood has very opaque origin chains
The main problem in wooden garden furniture is Chain of Custody (CoC). A piece of furniture may carry an FSC certificate on the packaging, but if the chain of custody is not audited at every link, that certificate does not guarantee that the specific wood in that piece is FSC.
Investigations by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) have documented that illegally logged Burmese timber enters European and US furniture through laundering routes via Vietnam (3.08) and Thailand (6.67). The furniture arrives as "Made in Vietnam" with undeclared wood origin.
Alternative woods to teak also have problems:
— Acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia): produced mainly in China (2.12) and Eastern Europe. Chinese acacia lacks traceability.
— Eucalyptus: origin mainly in Brazil (6.78) or Australia (8.86). Australian eucalyptus is perfectly democratic.
— Treated pine: exterior pine usually comes from Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway — all full democracies) or Eastern Europe (Poland 8.22, Romania 6.45).
The democratic countries producing garden wood with a clean chain
Denmark (9.28) and Sweden (9.39) — Scandinavian garden design brands use oak, ash, and FSC teak from traceable sources. Skagerak (Denmark) is a reference for Scandinavian garden design with certified FSC wood.
Italy (7.67) — Unopiu (founded in 1978 in Florence) produces high-end garden furniture with FSC-certified teak, European acacia, and certified materials. The company publishes its sourcing policy.
United Kingdom (8.28) — Gloster Furniture (Somerset) produces high-end FSC teak furniture. One of the few companies in the sector that publishes the names of its wood suppliers and their individual chain of custody certificates. Sustainable Product Award at Spoga+Gafa 2024.
Costa Rica (8.00) — Costa Rican company Buen Retiro produces own-plantation FSC-certified teak, exporting to Europe. Their teak comes from 20-25-year-old plantations in the Guanacaste region, fully traceable.
Australia (8.86) — Australian eucalyptus certified Responsible Wood (Australian FSC equivalent). Several Australian garden furniture companies export to Europe with a full democratic chain.
What to look for when buying garden furniture with democratic wood
— FSC 100% or PEFC: look for the seal on the product (not just the catalogue). FSC Mixed may include wood from uncertified sources.
— Published chain of custody: serious brands can tell you their wood supplier's FSC CoC certificate number. Verifiable in the FSC online database.
— Avoid "Indonesian teak" without a specific certificate: Indonesia is borderline; without specific FSC, the risk is high.
— Avoid very low prices for teak: real quality teak has a market price. A €200 teak table is usually painted acacia or wood of unknown origin.
— Country of furniture manufacture: Made in Denmark, Made in Italy, Made in UK correlates positively with better traceability.
The best options in 2026 with a democratic supply chain
Skagerak — Denmark (9.28). Danish design, FSC-certified plantation teak. Their Curve and Kolding lines are Scandinavian garden design references. Price: €400–2,000 per piece.
Unopiu — Italy (7.67). Italian high-end, FSC-certified teak and acacia, supply chain published. Price: €600–5,000.
Gloster Furniture — UK (8.28). The sustainable teak furniture reference in the premium market. FSC CoC published. Price: €800–4,000.
Royal Botania — Belgium (8.68). High-end outdoor furniture with stainless steel and FSC teak. Belgian design, European manufacturing. Price: €1,000–6,000.
Brown Jordan — US (7.85). American garden furniture reference. Wooden products use FSC or PEFC certified materials. Price: €500–3,000.
Buen Retiro (Costa Rica) — Costa Rica (8.00). Own-plantation FSC-certified teak. More accessible price through direct sales. Price: €300–1,200.
Your terrace also has geopolitics
Every summer, millions of Europeans bring out their garden furniture without thinking about its origin. A Burmese teak table or a Chinese acacia chair finances, however marginally, regimes that do not respect the rights that table, set in the Sunday afternoon sun, seems to celebrate.
Skagerak (Denmark, 9.28), Gloster (UK, 8.28), or Buen Retiro (Costa Rica, 8.00) offer real alternatives: quality furniture, timeless design, and verifiable supply chains. The price is higher. So is the lifespan.
Democratic Market lists only garden furniture with certified wood from countries with an EIU score above 6.0. Because the outdoor space also deserves a clean origin.
This article was originally published at Democratic Market. Read the full version with additional analysis on our site.
