Some 30 to 50 local trees are felled every day to pave the way for urban development, the preponderance of which is destined for the landfill. Conceivably, it would be judicious to reuse these logs. This will reduce our carbon footprint and reduce the need to import wood.
Which is why woodworking studio Roger&Sons launched The Local Tree Project four years ago. As part of the initiative, abandoned logs are recycled into furniture and objects using the angsana, khaya, tembusu, and rain tree species.
“We believe that being sustainable means utilising what we have locally, whether it is a waste product or something from the environment,” says Morgan Yeo. “When we first started, we used local wood for about five to 10 percent of our projects. Today, it’s about 70 percent.”
Formerly known as JR & P Industries, Roger&Sons rebranded and restructured in 2014 after Yeo and his two brothers took over the reins from their late father. Its current fabrications range from feature walls, dining tables, outdoor benches, and coffee tables to cheese boards, phone holders, and coasters. One of the more novel type of offerings is kalimbas, hand-held African musical instruments comprising wooden soundboards and metal keys.
The way the industry works in Singapore makes it difficult to implement sustainable practices, explains Yeo. For example, although tricky to reuse or refurbish, the use of plywood is prevalent because the material is flexible and cheap, so it is easier to build something from scratch instead of working with existing materials. As a countermeasure, the company incorporates eco-friendly practices like using sustainable glue whenever possible.
Roger&Sons currently keeps its wood wastage in every production to less than five percent—it is careful to not over-order material and maximises utilisation by repurposing sawdust, shavings, and wood chips as fertiliser and packaging material. All offcuts are available for sale or adapted into smaller items such as corporate gifts.
“We try to remain grounded in an industry where it’s always about producing something new for a lower price. As carpenters, it’s all about staying true to our craft and improving our skills each day.”
Morgan Yeo on tuning out the noise
“Doing so allows us to advance our designs as we can create furniture and objects that are harder to build. We are woodworkers and we pride ourselves on that. We want to be known for our skills and workmanship,” adds Yeo. In the pipeline is a new range of limited-quantity furniture that will allow the company to determine demand before confirming orders, further reducing waste.
While research and development remain Roger&Sons’ core pillar, production challenges related to machinery limitations impede the advancement of proof of concept to production. Thankfully, the commitment to innovation remains unwavering. “If we share our findings with other companies or experts, we can try new things and develop new ideas,” says Yeo.
He reveals that the novel concepts explored include making plywood from sawdust and fabricating plywood veneer from local wood, and in addition to spreading a message, him and his team strive to impart knowledge. “It is imperative that we educate the public and raise awareness about the difference between well-made furniture and furniture made fast.”
Art director: Chia Wei Choong
Videographer: Alicia Chong
Photographer: Mun Kong
Photographer’s assistant: Alfred Phang
Makeup: Wee Ming using NARS
Hair: Jenny Ng
Car: Mercedes Benz EQS SUV
