Modern landscaping is undergoing a green transformation.
As cities and rural communities alike turn to eco-friendly infrastructure, one humble material is rising in importance: the wood-based permeable paver. Unlike its concrete or plastic counterparts, this material has a natural lifecycle—beginning in carefully managed forests and ending as a regenerative element of the built environment.
At Proflow Permeable Pavers™, our commitment to sustainability shapes every step of our product’s journey. This isn’t just a paver—it’s a story of balance between people, nature, and thoughtful design. Here's a detailed look at how a simple piece of wood becomes a beautiful, functional, and climate-friendly surface under your feet.
1. It Starts with a Tree—But Not Just Any Tree
The life of a wood paver begins in responsibly managed forests—places where biodiversity, regeneration, and ecological stewardship are not just buzzwords, but daily practice. These forests are carefully cultivated to ensure long-term sustainability, with every felled tree accompanied by plans for natural regeneration or replanting.
At Proflow Permeable Pavers™, we work with Black Locust and use trees from well-regulated sources, such as storm-felled wood or sustainable forestry cooperatives. This reduces our reliance on virgin timber, promotes circularity, and ensures that no part of the tree goes to waste.
Key considerations at this stage:
- Local sourcing reduces carbon emissions from transport and supports regional forestry economies.
- Selective logging ensures that forest ecosystems remain healthy and productive, even after harvesting.
- Waste minimization is achieved by using offcuts and reclaimed wood where suitable for paver manufacturing.
This first stage already sets the tone: our pavers begin as part of a living forest and are harvested in ways that prioritize regrowth and climate resilience.
2. Cut, Naturally Aged, and Crafted for Simplicity and Strength
Once selected, the logs are transported to our facilities, where they’re milled into planks and set aside to dry—not in energy-intensive kilns, but naturally, using time, airflow, and the sun. This method preserves the wood’s organic structure while drastically lowering our carbon footprint.
What happens next?
- Air-drying is a slow and deliberate process. It can take several months depending on climate and wood species, but it avoids the emissions and energy consumption of conventional kiln drying.
- Stabilization through patience: Natural seasoning minimizes the risks of sudden cracking or structural weaknesses that can happen with artificial drying.
- Precision shaping: Once the wood reaches a stable moisture content, it’s cut into dimensionally consistent paver units with smooth, beveled edges or clean-cut sides—depending on the intended use.
By allowing nature to guide this phase, we create pavers that are not only lower-impact to produce, but also more harmonious with outdoor environments in both appearance and performance.
3. Untreated by Chemicals—Protected by Nature
Unlike traditional outdoor wood products, which are often saturated with oils, solvents, or plastic coatings, our pavers are left completely untreated. This choice is deliberate. By doing so, we protect ecosystems from harmful runoff and ensure a toxic-free surface that’s safe for horses, children, pets, and plant life.
Rather than "locking" the wood in a fixed appearance, we let it evolve naturally. The material weathers over time—gaining a graceful gray or silvery tone depending on exposure, moisture, and local conditions.
Advantages of going oil-free and chemical-free:
- No leaching: There's no risk of petrochemicals entering soil or water systems.
- Zero maintenance treatments: Homeowners and landscapers don’t need to reapply oils or sealants each year.
- Natural biodegradability: At end-of-life, the wood decomposes safely, enriching the soil rather than polluting it.
This approach reflects our core philosophy: nature doesn’t need to be fought—it just needs to be respected.
4. Crafted by Hands That Matter
Manufacturing sustainability isn’t just about raw materials—it’s also about who makes the product and how. At Proflow, we’re proud to partner with social enterprises and inclusive workshops that provide meaningful employment to people often left out of the traditional labor market.
This includes:
- Individuals with physical disabilities or mobility challenges.
- Workers in regions rebuilding after conflict or economic hardship.
- People transitioning back to the workforce after injury or trauma.
Why this matters:
- Every paver tells a human story, adding dignity and purpose to production.
- Our workshops provide safe, accessible environments tailored to each worker’s needs.
- Rather than automated mass production, we embrace precision craftsmanship—supporting both product quality and community welfare.
By embedding social value into every square meter of our pavers, we don’t just build better landscapes—we build better lives.
5. Delivered with a Minimal Carbon Footprint
Once the pavers are complete, the next challenge is getting them to customers without undoing the environmental benefits of their production. That’s why our logistics model is based on carbon-aware transport practices.
Our strategies include:
- Flat-packing pavers tightly to maximize load efficiency and reduce shipping volume.
- Working with low-emission logistics providers who use electric vehicles or biodiesel where available.
- Developing regional manufacturing partnerships, so products can be assembled or finished closer to where they’ll be used.
We also explore carbon offsetting, not as a marketing gimmick, but as a way to continually improve our environmental accountability. This includes support for reforestation efforts, local tree planting, and soil restoration.
In short, our products don’t just look green—they travel green too.
6. Installed with Nature in Mind
Installation is where the paver’s sustainable potential truly comes to life. Unlike concrete or synthetic surfaces, our wood-based pavers are designed to be fully permeable, allowing rainwater to seep naturally into the ground and reducing the burden on stormwater systems.
Installation best practices include:
- Laying on a permeable base, typically made from angular gravel or crushed stone.
- Avoiding any use of concrete, glue, or asphalt, which would block water infiltration.
- Using joint fillers like Romex or fine gravel that allow for flexibility and drainage.
Benefits of this system:
- Helps recharge groundwater supplies.
- Reduces urban flooding risks and erosion.
- Prevents surface heat build-up, contributing to cooler microclimates—especially important in cities.
Whether you’re paving a backyard, a public plaza, or a stable floor, this system works with nature, not against it.
7. Built to Last—and Then to Give Back
All good things must eventually come to an end—but when our pavers reach the end of their usable life, they return to the earth with dignity.
Unlike plastic tiles or sealed concrete blocks, which can take centuries to break down, wood decomposes naturally and safely. In fact, end-of-life pavers can be:
- Composted or mulched, returning nutrients to the soil.
- Repurposed into rustic benches, edging, or furniture.
- Burned as biomass (where allowed), providing clean energy and closing the material loop.
And because we don’t use any chemical treatments or resins, there's no toxic residue left behind. Just natural material, on a natural timeline.
This is the definition of a circular product: it starts in the forest, serves in the built world, and then becomes part of the soil again—completing its cycle in harmony with the environment.
Final Thoughts: Designing for Regeneration
The story of a Proflow Permeable Paver™ is more than a supply chain—it's a philosophy. A belief that materials should be sourced with care, processed with restraint, crafted with compassion, and returned with grace.
We invite you to walk with us—literally and figuratively—on a path built for people and planet alike. Whether you’re designing for a home, a horse stable, or an urban rest area, our pavers offer a chance to build beauty and function with integrity.
Interested in bringing this story to your next project?
Let’s talk. At Proflow Permeable Pavers, we’re always ready to support sustainable designers, communities, and visionaries.
