They're Making Toilets Out of Wood Chips Now

But have no fear for the sturdiness of the seemingly unreliable material, the Finnish design company behind the timber throne says the composition of its wood chip toilets makes them “practically unbreakable.”

This is just the most recent wood chip fixture introduction from company Woodio. The manufacturer has been in business since 2017 and today offers bathtubs, sinks, and accessories such as cabinet knobs and wall panels, in addition to a toilet.

The toilet offering, Block, comes in one wall-hung style with a modern, Scandi look and 10 colorways ranging from burnt orange to mossy green, and all the standard neutrals in between. Its design looks far from the average toilet in a traditional American home, but on par for a fixture formed from a material most commonly associated with gardening and children’s playgrounds.

Founder and CEO Petro Lahtinen brings his chemistry background to home fixtures, creating a wood chip-bioplastic resin-fossil composite that consists of 80% wood by volume. The company claims its products release 99% fewer emissions than its ceramic counterparts.

Comparing its manufacturing process to ceramics, the wood chip products need much less water and energy. Plus, there’s no need to fire up a massive kiln to finish the sinks or toilet, removing the burning of gas from production. Still, the toilet is made of non-recyclable material. 

While Woodio is a pro at producing wood chip fixtures, this toilet became its most complicated product, taking three years to finalize and release to market. It can be cleaned with a damp cloth on the exterior and commercial toilet cleaners inside.