markets.businessinsider.com: In what might feel like deja-vu for home builders, lumber prices are once again surging to start the year, and some expect the rally to continue throughout 2022.
The price per thousand board feet of lumber jumped nearly 4% on Wednesday to $1,284, and is up 12% year-to-date. The move higher comes as demand for new homes remains strong and supply chain disruptions persist
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From the looks of the data presented in this article, I don’t doubt that the way that lumber is being used in the entertainment industry is on the verge of a big change. In theater specifically, companies of all types are using lumber for its many positive attributes such as its diversity in strength, weight, and durability and of course low cost. However, as a non-renewable resource it presents some ethical issues of sustainability. Often when a show is constructed with the use of a large amount of lumber, there is a significant amount of set dressing and decoration work required that means the material cannot be reused for the next season. Whether that means painting, staining, or any other irreversible treatment, a large portion has to be scrapped in the strike of the show. So, as the cost of lumber goes up, this may present an opportunity for the entertainment industry to be innovative in alternatives that are more environmentally conscious and ethical.
This article is not shocking in the slightest. At least until the housing crisis calms down, wood prices will be on the rise. I honestly know absolutely nothing about how the lumber industry works but I do find it really interesting that it affects so many things, industries, and even people around the world. I wonder what will be affected next. The theater industry is slowly becoming more sustainable but there is still so much waste that is produced every day that it is simply not enough. Waste has been normalized but is something that can be fixed. Lumber is definitely something that can be reused and even recycled if you put in the effort. Part of this problem is accessibility. Some people just don’t have access to the resources in order to produce sustainable shows but I would argue that the larger companies shouldn’t be having that problem. Overall, this article provides insight to a very real problem that continues to loom over lumber users everywhere.
I suppose that a maintenance of the worryingly steep lumber prices we’ve come to be used to is less horrible than another spike in prices, but I think that a continuation doesn’t mean that nothing changes. The continuing high prices mean that the economic strain on people continues as it has which means many businesses will fall further into debt and prices for wood products will continue to stay out of reach of many consumers, furthering a class divide on things like housing, furniture, and handmade goods. In the specific case of theater, I wonder how long we will last before wood becomes unattainable in large quantities as it is currently used in set building. I think it is plausible that as prices go up and climate change/deforestation lead to wood shortages, theater might begin to experiment with man-made construction materials, perhaps pressed planks made of some sort of recycled material, something a step further from being wood than plywood or masonite.
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