Martin Guitar's Commitment to Sustainable Wood Sourcing
C008304). By offering products that are FSC® certified by NEPCon (Nature Economy and People Connected), an international NGO that works to build capacity and commitment for mainstreaming sustainability, Martin supports responsible management of the world's forests.
The FSC® label coupled with the Rainforest Alliance® frog seal on selected guitars assures consumers that the wood used comes from forests that have met rigorous standards for protection of forests, communities and wildlife. Martin was one of the first acoustic guitar manufacturers to produce a guitar model comprised entirely of FSC® certified woods.
Woods used in the construction of Martin guitars are selected based on their acoustic properties, appearance, availability and legal status, according to the company's sourcing specialist, Albert Germick. In addition to Mahogany and Rosewood, Martin uses exotic tropical hardwoods such as Cocobolo, Ziricote, Guatemalan Rosewood, and Koa. "Hardness and density are taken into consideration for acoustics. Grain orientation is also very important. For guitars built in our custom shop, the more wild the grain pattern, the better," said Germick.
"A big challenge for us is that we need to bend the wood with heat and moisture, and some types of wood are not that forgiving," he said.
In 2019, Martin Guitar organized and hosted their 7th Biannual Wood Summit which included representatives from National Resources Canada, the World Resources Institute, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Investigation Agency. In his CEO Commentary, Chris Martin reiterated the company's commitment to procuring wood in a sustainable way. "All wood has a story," he said. "We're finding that consumers want to know that story, the story behind each and every tree that we are involved with along the way."
"Sinker Mahogany" is a great example of exotic wood with a captivating origin story. Sinker Mahogany logs are recovered from the bottom of rivers in Belize. The logs are from extremely dense old growth trees, and some of the wood has been underwater for over 100 years. Rather than cutting down more Mahogany trees, Martin Guitar recovers sinker logs from river beds.
From wood sourcing to how Martin treats its employees and runs its business, customers who purchase Martin guitars know they are supporting a company that is working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Their B Corp certification helps them tell that story.
Frequently asked questions
What certifications does Martin Guitar use to verify sustainable wood sourcing?+
Martin Guitar's products are FSC® certified by NEPCon, and selected guitars carry both the FSC® label and the Rainforest Alliance® frog seal. These certifications assure consumers that the wood comes from forests meeting rigorous standards for protecting forests, communities, and wildlife.
What types of wood does Martin use to build its guitars?+
In addition to Mahogany and Rosewood, Martin uses exotic tropical hardwoods such as Cocobolo, Ziricote, Guatemalan Rosewood, and Koa. Woods are selected based on acoustic properties, appearance, availability, and legal status.
What is Sinker Mahogany and why does Martin Guitar use it?+
Sinker Mahogany consists of logs recovered from the bottom of rivers in Belize, sourced from extremely dense old growth trees, some submerged for over 100 years. Martin uses it to avoid cutting down more Mahogany trees.
What criteria does Martin Guitar consider when selecting wood for acoustics?+
According to sourcing specialist Albert Germick, hardness and density are key factors for acoustics, and grain orientation is also very important. For custom shop guitars, wilder grain patterns are preferred.
What is Martin Guitar's Wood Summit?+
The Wood Summit is a biannual event Martin Guitar organizes and hosts to address sustainable wood sourcing. The 7th summit in 2019 included representatives from Natural Resources Canada, the World Resources Institute, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Investigation Agency.
Why is bending wood a challenge in guitar manufacturing?+
Martin must bend wood using heat and moisture during guitar construction, and some types of wood are not very forgiving in that process. This limits which species can be practically used.