Heartwood vs sapwood vs bamboo

Sapwood comes from the outermost parts of a tree, where it transports nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

• Lighter in colour and with a higher moisture content than heartwood, it’s less dense, is softer and more susceptible to decay. 
• When used for chopping boards, it provides a lighter, often more budget-friendly option than other woods. 
• It is overall more prone to damage and can absorb water, leading to staining and warping.

Heartwood is the inner, denser part of a tree, forming as the tree ages. 

• It’s darker in colour (deep red, brown, purple or blackish, depending on the species) as it contains resins and other substances. 
• Dense, hard and decay-resistant, heartwood provides structural support to a tree and is therefore incredibly strong.
• It makes beautiful boards that are moisture-resistant, highly durable and can even have self-healing properties that protect from knife blade damage. 

Bamboo is a grass, not a wood. 

• Because the plant is fast growing, it’s eco-friendly and highly affordable. 
• Bamboo is relatively non-porous, scratch resistant and care-wise, more forgiving than wood (you can dish wash bamboo boards, eg). 
• But bamboo contains silica which wears down knives more than wood. 
• Although generally a light, hard, durable material, bamboo boards are made by laminating pieces together and this means boards wear out faster than wooden ones. Plus they can contain toxins from the adhesives used.