Our process
Each Itza Wood item is hand-crafted by native Guatemalan artisans local to the Petén region. From start to finish, we pride ourselves in offering the highest quality woodworking.
Above all else, we are committed to doing good for the community and the environment. Our product looks and feels good, because we spend a lot of time sanding and carefully finishing piece by piece.
Our process begins deep in the forest...
From the heart of the Petén Jungle, we work with community organized and FSC certified lumber yards for sustainable harvesting. We purchase woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure that we are not contributing to over cutting or damaging the jungle.
The FSC certified woods we use have a rich and bountiful history that dates all the way back to the Mayan empire. In fact, the Mayan built the grandest ancient structure in the world, La Danta (which still stands), using wood from the very same forests we work from.
To ensure durability we kiln dry our tropical woods, de-stressing them to prevent warping and changes once they leave our tropical paradise to colder climates. The lumber is then transformed by our talented team of carvers, carpenters, craftsmen and women.
On average an Itza Wood piece has around 14 steps in the production process to reach the quality finish we desire. Each piece is finely inspected for quality control before being packed and shipped.
All of our kitchen utensils, serving boards and bowls are finished with a non-toxic and food safe beeswax paste. Waterproof items such as our bathroom line and coasters are finished in matte polyurethane.
Handcrafting requires persistence and patience.
We craft with attention to detail, caring for the environment and the lives of those involved in our work.
Taking care of your items...
Hardwoods will last a lifetime with a little care.
We recommend conditioning boards, spoons and bowls with a mixture of beeswax and food safe linseed oil, mineral oil or any other natural oil that does not turn rancid. Do this once a week for the first month and then sporadically to restore vibrancy when the wood dulls. Items can be washed with warm soapy water but do not leave submerged in water.
A word on sustainability...
We work out of the Mayan Biosphere, the largest remaining tropical forest in the Americas and an important lung for our world.
We want to see the forest remain and prosper; before cutting a single tree we reforested 45,000 and continue to work on reforestation projects.
The sustainable use of natural resources has proven to be the solution for breaking cycles of poverty in our communities and protecting the environment. We are firm believers in this sustainable model that is equally good for the environment as for the local economy.
Learn more about the model of sustainability we support and its environmental and economic impact: