Memphis Urban Wood, Inc. was born out of the idea that sending trees to a landfill is inherently wasteful, and that a superior approach is to leverage our knowledge of the best uses for downed trees.
Thanks to nonprofit majority ownership, we’re able to deliver on both the economic and human sides of the business, steadfastly committed to the principle of doing well by doing good.
Our partnership
Memphis Urban Wood’s Upcycling Campus is a collaboration among The Works, Inc. Unified Wood Economy, and Woodland Tree Service. Each partner brings a distinct contribution to the partnership:
The Works, Inc. is a local nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is to rebuild, restore, and renew Memphis neighborhoods through innovation, advocacy, and collaboration. The Works provides funding and technical support for fulfilling the Upcycling Campus’s community mission.
The nonprofit Unified Wood Economy is a leader in the growing movement to create jobs, capture carbon, and cut waste by taking otherwise unused wood and diverting it from the landfill. Instead, we upcycle it so that it can be used for everything from lumber to high-end wood products like flooring and furniture, as well as biochar and compost. UWE provides technical support and building out of the supply chain for the upcycled wood products..
Woodland Tree Service is a locally owned and operated tree care company serving Memphis and the Mid South’s tree care needs. Woodland will divert all their wood waste to Memphis Urban Wood for upcycling.
“This is a seminal moment to put together this concept of upcycling wood at scale. We’re bringing together all the parties to show a successful operational model to the nation.”
Terran Arwood
President, Woodland Tree Service
Our Operations
Memphis Urban Wood is …
On track to producing more than a million board feet of lumber, along with hundreds of tons of compost, per year.
Diverting 60 tons of high-quality hardwood material every day from regional landfills.
Running the business side of our operations — lights, HVAC, etc. — on solar power, with plans to upgrade to cover power for all of our equipment.
A zero-waste campus, utilizing every part of the tree — down to the sawdust — to make valuable wood products.
“Memphis Urban Wood is doing something no one’s ever done before — bringing wood upcycling to scale. As we grow, we’re spreading the seeds of innovation throughout Memphis and beyond.”
Hugo S. Lam
President
Unified Wood Economy Board of Directors