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Sustainability

Applying common sense to forestry and business.

Proteak is dedicated to the goal of sustainability, both environmental and social. From the outset, Proteak’s mission has been to provide consumers and suppliers with a top-quality, eco-friendly alternative to Burmese teak.

Our sustainable teak plantations are situated on the reclaimed ranch lands along Mexico’s Pacific coast. On these plantations, our trees are grown slowly and naturally, without the use of fertilizers or irrigation. This not only minimizes our ecological footprint, but also ensures that our plantation teak has the classic look and feel of classic old-growth teak. We call it “Slow Growth Teak.”

Proteak’s forestry practices have earned our plantations the distinction of an FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certification. In addition to our resource-conscious management, our plantations preserve 6,000 acres of virgin tropical forests that stand adjacent to our planted areas.

Our carefully managed plantations cover 16,000 acres of previously-cleared ranch lands and are now home to more than 4 million trees. On a daily basis, our plantations capture the CO2 emitted by 20 million cars. Additionally, Proteak helps reduce freight emissions by providing a closer and more ethical source of this legendary material.

Much of the world’s teak comes from Southeast Asia’s old-growth forests, particularly the nation of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). Not only must this old-growth teak be shipped from the opposite side of the planet, its sale helps fund a notoriously brutal military junta that has controlled Burma since 1962.

In contrast, Proteak’s renewable forestry operations seek to revitalize the agricultural economy in coastal Mexico by employing workers at fair wages and benefits in traditionally low-income area of Mexico.

At Proteak, we are proud of our product and our values. Our commitment to sustainability and quality has helped us become one of the largest teak growers in the western hemisphere. We look forward to providing sustainable plantation teak for years and years to come.

  • Our forests currently cover more than 16,000 acres of reclaimed ranch land along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
  • We protect over 6,000 acres of tropical rain forests.
  • On a daily basis, our plantations capture the CO2 emitted by 20,000 cars.
  • Our plantations provide jobs for 250 workers in traditionally low-income areas of Mexico.
  • We pay above average wages and offer health benefits to all of our employees.
  • We have planted over 4,000,000 trees and we are still growing.
  • We are the closest quality teak source to the continental United States, significantly reducing the amount of energy and emissions required to bring teak products from the plantation to your home.
  • Renewable wood products store carbon, permanently removing it from the atmosphere.

For more information feel free to download Proteak’s Plantation Management Plan.