Taiwan Business TOPICS Taiwan acacia - also known as Formosan koa - is traditionally used as firewood and to
make charcoal. However, the lumber from this endemic species has become prized for
its distinctive wavy grain pattern. Photo: Pei-yin Hsieh
Taiwan acacia is traditionally used as firewood, but Taiwan’s king of carton packaging, Caho Chen, and a team of innovative young people have developed methods to turn this neglected endemic hardwood into pricey bathtubs, customized guitars, and novel whiskey barrels. How did they transform this once-cheap commodity into a sought-after luxury material?
By Kuo-chen Lu and Chi-wei Lin, CommonWealth Magazine