UK-based Loxkin has developed a range of plant-based wood finishes made using British-grown hemp seed oil, positioning the products as an alternative to conventional petrochemical-based treatments.

The company was founded by regenerative agriculture specialist Nathaniel Loxley and woodworker Jamie Zenner Downs-Atkins. The pair began developing the finish after Loxley experimented with hemp oil grown in Sussex in 2017, sending a batch to Downs-Atkins to test on timber in his Cornwall workshop.

According to the company, the oil penetrates the timber and polymerises within the wood rather than forming a surface film. The team say this allows the natural grain to remain visible while providing protection and making the surface easier to maintain and repair.

The range includes wood oils, wax polishes and wood-care kits. Its current oil is described as solvent-free and low VOC, and is available in 250ml, 500ml, 1l and 2.5l sizes, with a 27.5l option also listed by the company.

The products are intended for applications including furniture, worktops, chopping boards, cabinetry, flooring, doors, trims and other interior timber. Loxkin’s wax polish combines hemp seed oil with beeswax and is marketed for uses including wood panelling, kitchen cabinets, worktops and children’s wooden toys.

The company’s approach is based on extending the useful life of timber rather than treating finishing as a final, irreversible stage of manufacture. Loxkin argues that some conventional finishes can make repair, refinishing and eventual material recovery more difficult, whereas a penetrating oil finish can be renewed over time.

This places the products within a wider discussion around circular design and material health, particularly where timber is specified for products or interiors intended to be maintained over a long service life.

Source: bdonline.co.uk