Wooden Leaf Tray

From the Guatemalan jungle to your doorstep.

In this partnership with the artisans from Itza Wood, each product is handcrafted by native Guatemalan artisans local to the Petén region. Each item is made from sustainable and locally-sourced wood, ensuring each product is not only a unique work of art but a true expression of the beauty and biodiversity of the Guatemalan jungle.

From the heart of the Petén Jungle, we work with community organized and FSC certified lumber yards for sustainable harvesting. We purchase woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure that we are not contributing to over cutting or damaging the jungle.  

The FSC certified woods we use have a rich and bountiful history that dates all the way back to the Mayan empire. In fact, the Mayan built the grandest ancient structure in the world, La Danta (which still stands), using wood from the very same forests we work from.

To ensure durability, we kiln dry our tropical woods, de-stressing them to prevent warping and changes once they leave our tropical paradise to colder climates. The lumber is then transformed by our talented team of carvers, carpenters, craftsmen and women.

On average an Itza Wood piece has around 14 steps in the production process to reach the quality finish we desire. Each piece is finely inspected for quality control before being packed and shipped. 

All of our kitchen utensils, serving boards and bowls are finished with a non-toxic and food-safe beeswax paste. Waterproof items such as our bathroom line and coasters are finished in matte polyurethane.

A deep commitment to social impact & sustainability.

At Itza Wood, the mission is to break the cycle of poverty in the Petén region of Guatemala. By providing education and employment opportunities to local residents, we celebrate the traditions of Petén while creating a better future for its people.

We actively reforest and purchase FSC certified woods. We are keen contributors to the replenishment of the Peten forest.

“Before touching a single tree, our reforestation project planted 45,000 trees in the heart of the Petén jungle. This is our way of deepening our commitment to nature’s most beautiful treasures” - Eliza Babarczy, Founder

Itza Wood was founded in the Petén Jungle - the largest remaining tropical forest of Central America.

Our story is closely entwined with our social efforts and initiatives: preserving the beauty of the Petén while empowering the Guatemalan people. All Itza Wood creations are sourced exclusively from the Petén jungle, while our growing contributions to the local Jungle School help drive education for young people in the region.

Beautiful products from the heart of the Guatemalan jungle.

Our products are centered around the natural beauty of the Guatemalan woods and the simplicity of life in the jungle. Tropical woods are enduring and will last a lifetime - we aim for each piece to transmit this quality.

Fine craftsmanship by the people of Peten.

We put people and our planet first, providing craftsmen with favorable work environments and wages. Investment in the local community through employment and education. Every Itza Wood piece is crafted and sold with the intention of creating further jobs and education in Guatemala. We believe in the impact of employment within local communities, and the power of education in furthering lives.

Each item sold by Department of Artisans employs an equal profit-sharing model.

Simply put, we make as much as our artisans do. The average split for each product is 40% artisan contribution, 40% DOA contribution, 20% importing + shipping fees. This means, our profits are the same as our artisans and we don't mark-up our prices like traditional retailers.

Here is the breakdown for this piece. 

The artisan contribution goes towards the cost of materials, the maker, and the project manager. The DOA contribution goes towards marketing + operating expenses, and community initiatives. The importing + shipping fees is paid out to each country during the exporting/importing process.

All shipments are securely packaged for safe and prompt delivery. We are happy to offer shipping worldwide. Please allow 1-2 business days for order processing.