A few weeks ago, if someone asked me the best wood for outdoor furniture, I'd almost always recommend teak. It's a naturally water-resistant hardwood that looks great even without a stain, so it's perfect for high-end luxury furniture. I always thought that the only drawback was the price.
However, a recent report by the Environmental Investigations Agency has made me utterly rethink my advice. The significant amount of teak in the US furniture market comes from Myanmar. According to Thomas Chung, Senior Forests Campaigner at the EIA, there is no way to buy Myanmar teak 'legally, let alone ethically'.
