Trays in three sizes, woven rattan, sustainable and Fair Trade from Cameroon

Fine handwoven rattan trays in three sizes from Cameroon.

These non-timber forest plants are a critical component of many Africans' lives, livelihoods and material cultures. In the past we called rattan reeds.

Rattan is not bamboo. Rattan comes from the rattan palm. It is a creeper that resembles a liana, and it is the core of the stem of that liana that is the reed.

Rattan is one of the most sustainable materials available for the production of furniture. Rattan is often confused with bamboo, but there is a big difference between the two materials. Bamboo cannot be bent because it is hollow. Rattan, on the other hand, is massive and can therefore be steamed and bent into all sorts of shapes. This also makes rattan furniture very durable and able to last for generations.

Rattan and sustainability
Rattan grows like lianas around the trees in the rainforest. No rainforest, no rattan.

Rattan regenerates in 5 to 7 years, making it one of the world's fastest-growing materials for furniture making. Rattan vines are known to be able to grow up to 100 meters. Rattan absorbs CO2 and generates clean air - and produces up to 35% more oxygen than a tree. Rattan is harvested in the most environmentally friendly way, namely by hand.