Business
Yachting Industry Seeks Teak Alternatives
The scarcity of teak, a highly valued material for its aesthetic appeal, has prompted the yacht industry to explore other options.
In 2023, Jeff Bezos took delivery of his $500m (£366m) superyacht, Koru, which features teak interior and decking, a luxury material prized for its durability and aesthetic appeal.
Teak's unique properties, including its resistance to rot and salt, make it a highly sought-after material, often associated with high-end products and prestige.
The finest quality teak is obtained from mature trees found primarily in Myanmar's natural forests, where it is harvested almost exclusively.
However, the trade in this timber is controlled by Myanmar's military-linked sector, which has raised concerns about sustainability, leading to import restrictions in the UK, EU, and US.
Following the 2021 coup in Myanmar, trade sanctions were imposed, further limiting the already restricted importation of the country's timber, which had been subject to longstanding laws.
Oceanco, the Netherlands-based shipyard that built Bezos's Koru, was fined in late 2024 for using Myanmar teak in the yacht's interior, highlighting the ongoing challenges in sourcing sustainable materials.
An investigation is currently underway in Germany to determine whether the teak used for the Koru's deck is also of Myanmar origin, or if it comes from a legitimate plantation source.
UK-based luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker was also fined in late 2024 for its use of Myanmar teak, with both Sunseeker and Oceanco attributing the breaches to unintentional errors, citing lapses in due diligence.
The continued presence of Myanmar teak in supply chains, often mislabeled as plantation teak from other countries, remains a persistent issue in the industry.
As a result, alternative materials are gaining popularity in the yacht industry, offering a range of options for those seeking sustainable and durable products.
These alternatives include thermally-modified woods, synthetic materials, and engineered teak laminates, which have undergone significant innovations in recent years, making them more viable options.
While prosecutions have had an impact, the depletion of pre-sanctions stockpiles of old-growth timber has driven the trend towards alternative materials, as companies seek to adapt to changing regulations.
Plantation teak from younger trees is generally considered inferior by high-end shipyards, as it rarely meets the quality standards associated with long, wide, dark-brown boards.
Other natural woods that could potentially replace teak often struggle to meet the industry's exacting standards or are limited in supply, making it challenging to find suitable alternatives.
Cork is one material that has been used as a substitute, offering a sustainable and low-carbon option, as it is harvested from bark that can regrow without requiring tree felling, although its appearance may not appeal to all.
According to Walter Kollert, a forestry consultant and member of the TEAKNET steering committee, alternatives to natural teak are welcome, given the risks of losing old-growth teak forests and the valuable ecosystems they support.
Kollert emphasizes the importance of preserving these ecosystems, highlighting the dangers of over-harvesting and the need for more sustainable practices.
While the furniture and housing industries have found it easier to substitute plantation teak, the yachting industry has faced greater challenges, due in part to its exacting standards and demanding requirements.
In October, luxury yacht maker Sunreef Yachts announced its decision to transition away from teak decking entirely, citing the difficulties of sourcing high-quality plantation teak and the company's commitment to greater sustainability.
Sunreef Yachts co-founder and chief technical officer, Nicolas Lapp, stated that the company has eliminated teak from its product range, believing it to be the only manufacturer to have done so.
Lapp explained that the decision was driven by the challenges of sourcing high-quality plantation teak and the company's efforts to improve its sustainability, as well as the difficulties of working with lower-quality plantation teak.
He noted that when purchasing plantation teak, a significant amount of the wood is often unusable, highlighting the need for more efficient and sustainable practices.
After testing various alternatives, Sunreef Yachts now offers two thermally-modified wood options, which mimic the appearance of teak, although the company has not yet disclosed the specific products used.
Some smaller boat models are already using recyclable synthetic decks, offering a more sustainable and low-maintenance option.
The thermally-modified woods used by Sunreef Yachts not only match the visual appeal of teak but also offer improved thermal performance, staying cooler in the sun and reducing the need for air conditioning.
One example of a newer thermally-modified wood product is Tesumo, launched in late 2021, which has gained traction in the market despite initial skepticism about the viability of such materials.
According to Arne Petersen, managing director of Tesumo, the company is working to increase production to meet growing demand, as the product has proven to be a successful alternative to natural teak.
Petersen acknowledges that past experiences with thermally-modified woods have been mixed, but argues that Tesumo offers a viable solution, having overcome earlier challenges.
The development of Tesumo resulted from a research project involving the University of Göttingen and Lürssen shipyard, which aimed to find a suitable alternative to old-growth teak.
The product is made from a fast-growing African hardwood that is heat-treated and further processed, including resin impregnation, to create a durable and sustainable material.
Notable installations of Tesumo include the helipad on the Lürssen-built superyacht Dragonfly, reportedly owned by Google co-founder Sergey Bryn, and the complete deck of the Lürssen-built superyacht Boardwalk, linked to US businessman Tilman Fertitta.
Synthetic alternatives, such as plastics, are also evolving, with Flexiteek, a UK-made PVC teak substitute introduced in 2000, being widely regarded as the market leader in its category.
In late 2024, Flexiteek launched its third-generation product, which offers improved performance, including easier cleaning and better thermal properties.
According to Steve Moore, Flexiteek's marketing manager, the new product retains its color over time, unlike natural teak, which greys with age, and has enhanced thermal performance compared to earlier versions.
Richard Strauss, CEO of Teakdecking Systems, has experience with the challenges of sourcing teak, having manufactured the decks for the Koru at the company's factory in Spain.
Strauss stated that the teak used on the Koru's deck was purchased through a wood trader within the EU, with all the company's teak being validated by a third-party firm to ensure chain of custody.
Teakdecking Systems primarily uses plantation teak sourced from India, as well as a small number of alternative materials, including a laminated wood product called Green Teak, which comes from Thailand.
The company has had success with these alternatives, which include a laminated teak product made from thinly sliced plantation-grown teak, glued together to form a strong and stable material.
Strauss explained that this process involves "tricking the eye" by using more of the log, creating a material that is both durable and sustainable.
By using laminated teak, the company is able to utilize more of the wood, reducing waste and creating a product that meets the industry's exacting standards.
Traditional preferences persist, with Strauss observing that plantation teak remains the top choice among his clientele.
According to Lapp of Sunreef, a more fundamental transformation is required, one that involves moving away from teak entirely and embracing a new cultural mindset.
Initially, customers often express a desire for teak, but as they become more informed about the issues surrounding it, they begin to consider alternative options that offer distinct advantages.
Lapp notes that once customers are presented with alternatives, they frequently discover that the differences are negligible, saying, "We show them, and they come to realize that they can't distinguish between the two."
In contrast, Jeremy Rogers, a small UK-based family yacht building business, is currently opting to continue using teak, sourcing it from government-managed plantations in Java that they believe are authentic and sustainably harvested.
Although the company is eager to adopt a sustainable substitute that meets their performance standards, their previous experiments with alternative materials have been largely unsuccessful, according to Jessie Rogers.
Jessie Rogers acknowledges that the challenge for alternative materials lies in their inability to replicate the unique characteristics of genuine teak, stating, "The problem for the alternatives is that there is nothing quite like real teak."
A correction was made on 4 February to provide additional information about Teakdecking Systems' involvement in creating the teak deck for the Koru, which was not included in the initial version of the article.
Business
Artist Alleges AirAsia Used His Work Without Permission
A street artist from Penang has reported that one of his artworks has been replicated and featured on the design of an airplane.
A lawsuit has been filed by a Malaysian-based artist against AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging unauthorized use of the artist's designs on one of the airline's planes.
According to the lawsuit, Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist residing in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, was reproduced and displayed on an AirAsia aircraft in late 2024 without his permission.
Zacharevic states that the use of his design was unauthorized, and no licensing agreement or consent was obtained, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.
The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for a statement regarding the allegations.
In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Zacharevic recalled that he first became aware of the alleged copyright infringement in October 2024, when he discovered that an AirAsia plane was featuring a livery resembling his artwork.
With over a decade of experience in Malaysia, Zacharevic is known for his roadside murals in Penang, which have become a staple of the local art scene.
One of Zacharevic's notable works is the 2012 street mural Kids on Bicycle, created for a local festival, which features two children on a bicycle integrated into the mural, located in George Town's heritage district.
The mural has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors taking photos in front of the iconic artwork.
Zacharevic alleges that his work was reproduced on an AirAsia plane without his knowledge or consent, and he personally witnessed the plane in operation at an airport.
Recalling the incident, Zacharevic expressed his discomfort with the situation, which occurred in 2024.
He took to social media to address the issue, posting a photo of the plane and tagging the airline, suggesting that they needed to discuss the use of his artwork.
Since then, Zacharevic has engaged in discussions with the company, but they have been unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.
This is not the first instance of Zacharevic's work being used in connection with AirAsia, as he claims the airline has also used his artwork on a delivery bag for its food services arm.
Court documents reveal that Zacharevic had previously discussed a potential collaboration with AirAsia in 2017, where he would create art for the airline's jets and a mural in one of their offices.
According to the documents, Zacharevic had informed the airline of his work and business rates during these discussions.
The lawsuit asserts that despite being aware of Zacharevic's work and rates, the airline proceeded to reproduce and publicly display one of his notable works, thereby infringing on his copyright and moral rights.
As the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia operates over 200 jets to more than 100 destinations, and has recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain.
Zacharevic has stated that he will leave it to the court to determine any potential compensation he may be entitled to.
The artist emphasized that he does not consider the use of his artwork to be a mere reference to cultural or geographical associations, but rather a distinct artistic creation.
Zacharevic stressed that his artwork is the result of years of professional training, skill, and labor, and should be recognized as such.
Business
US Businesses and Consumers Bear Brunt of Trump Tariff Costs, According to NY Fed
In 2022, the United States saw a significant increase in collective import tariff rates, with rates rising by more than 300 percent for a range of imported goods.
The modification of tariff agreements by President Donald Trump with several countries had a consistent outcome: increased costs for US-based companies and consumers.
According to a study released on Thursday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average tariff rate on imported goods increased significantly, rising from 2.6% at the beginning of the year to 13% in 2025.
The New York Fed's research revealed that US companies absorbed approximately 90% of the costs associated with the higher tariffs imposed by Trump on goods from countries such as Mexico, China, Canada, and the European Union.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York stated that "the majority of the economic burden of the high tariffs imposed in 2025 continues to be borne by US firms and consumers."
When tariff rates changed and increased in the previous year, exporting countries did not adjust their prices to mitigate potential declines in US demand.
Instead of lowering prices, exporters maintained their existing prices and transferred the tariff costs to US importers, who subsequently increased the prices of these goods for consumers.
The response of exporters in 2025 was similar to their reaction in 2018, when Trump introduced certain tariffs during his first term, resulting in higher consumer prices with minimal other economic effects, as noted by the New York Fed at the time.
The New York Fed's findings on Thursday are consistent with the results of other recent analyses.
The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German research organization, reported last month that its research indicated "nearly complete pass-through of tariffs to US import prices."
By analyzing 25 million transactions, Kiel researchers discovered that the prices of goods from countries like Brazil and India did not decrease.
The Kiel report noted that "trade volumes declined" instead, indicating that exporters preferred to reduce the quantity of goods shipped to the US rather than lower their prices.
The National Bureau of Economic Research also found that the pass-through of tariffs to US import prices was "nearly 100%", meaning that the US bears the cost of the price increase, not the exporting countries.
Similarly, the Tax Foundation, a Washington DC-based think tank, found that the increased tariffs on goods in 2025 resulted in higher costs for American households.
The Tax Foundation considered tariffs as a new tax on consumers and estimated that the 2025 increases resulted in an average cost of $1,000 (£734.30) per household, with a projected cost of $1,300 in 2026.
The Tax Foundation reported that the "effective" tariff rate, which accounts for decreased consumer purchases due to higher prices, is now 9.9%, representing the highest average rate since 1946.
The Tax Foundation concluded that the economic benefits of tax cuts included in Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will be entirely offset by the impacts of the tariffs on households.
Business
BBC Reporter Exposed to Cyber Attack Due to Vulnerabilities in AI Coding Tool
The demand for vibe-coding tools, which enable individuals without coding experience to develop applications using artificial intelligence, is experiencing rapid growth.
A significant and unresolved cyber-security vulnerability has been identified in a popular AI coding platform, according to information provided to the BBC.
The platform, known as Orchids, utilizes a "vibe-coding" approach, enabling individuals without technical expertise to create apps and games by inputting text prompts into a chatbot.
In recent months, such platforms have gained widespread popularity, often being touted as an early example of how AI can rapidly and affordably perform various professional tasks.
However, experts warn that the ease with which Orchids can be compromised highlights the risks associated with granting AI bots extensive access to computers in exchange for autonomous task execution.
Despite repeated requests for comment, the company has not responded to the BBC's inquiries.
Orchids claims to have a user base of one million and boasts partnerships with top companies, including Google, Uber, and Amazon.
According to ratings from App Bench and other analysts, Orchids is considered the top program for certain aspects of vibe coding.
Cyber-security researcher Etizaz Mohsin demonstrated the platform's security flaws to the BBC.
To test the platform's security, a spare laptop was used to download the Orchids desktop app and initiate a vibe-coding project.
A request was made to the Orchids AI assistant to generate code for a computer game based on the BBC News website.
The AI assistant automatically compiled code on the screen, which, without prior experience, was unintelligible.
By exploiting a specific cyber-security weakness, Mohsin was able to access the project and view and edit the code.
Mohsin then added a line of code to the project, which went unnoticed.
This action apparently allowed him to gain access to the computer, as evidenced by the subsequent appearance of a "Joe is hacked" notepad file on the desktop and a changed wallpaper featuring an AI hacker image.
The potential implications of this hack on the platform's numerous projects are significant.
A malicious hacker could have easily installed a virus on the machine without any action required from the victim.
Sensitive personal or financial data could have been compromised.
An attacker could have accessed internet history or even used the computer's cameras and microphones for surveillance.
Most cyber-attacks involve tricking victims into downloading malicious software or divulging login credentials.
This particular attack was carried out without any involvement from the victim, known as a zero-click attack.
Mohsin stated that the vibe-coding revolution has introduced a new class of security vulnerabilities that did not previously exist, highlighting the risks associated with relying on AI to handle tasks.
The concept of AI handling tasks autonomously comes with significant risks, according to Mohsin.
Mohsin, a 32-year-old from Pakistan currently residing in the UK, has a history of discovering dangerous software flaws, including work on the Pegasus spyware.
Mohsin discovered the flaw in December 2025 while experimenting with vibe-coding and has since attempted to contact Orchids through various channels, sending around a dozen messages.
The Orchids team responded to Mohsin this week, stating that they may have missed his warnings due to being overwhelmed with incoming messages.
According to the company's LinkedIn page, Orchids is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2025 with fewer than 10 employees.
Mohsin has only identified flaws in Orchids and not in other vibe-coding platforms, such as Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and Lovable.
Nonetheless, experts caution that this discovery should serve as a warning.
Professor Kevin Curran of Ulster University's cybersecurity department notes that the main security implications of vibe-coding are the potential for code to fail under attack due to a lack of discipline, documentation, and review.
Agentic AI tools, which perform complex tasks with minimal human input, are increasingly gaining attention.
A recent example is the Clawbot agent, also known as Moltbot or Open Claw, which can execute tasks on a user's device with little human intervention.
The free AI agent has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands of people, granting it deep access to computers and potentially introducing numerous security risks.
Karolis Arbaciauskas, head of product at NordPass, advises caution when using such tools.
Arbaciauskas warns that while it may be intriguing to see what an AI agent can do without security measures, this level of access is also highly insecure.
He recommends running these tools on separate, dedicated machines and using disposable accounts for experimentation.
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