VIDEO: Shellac, its origins and current industry challenges

Shellac is wonder substance that with the right knowhow can render lustrous surfaces on wood. It’s been used to seal and beautify wood for thousands of years – and its uses don’t end there, as it can also be found in jewellery and even as a glaze on nuts, fruits and the humble jelly bean.

In terms of being a natural organic substance it doesn’t get much more elemental – shellac is a natural resin which comes from the lac beetle.

Here’s a fascinating video from Business Insider that recounts the origins of shellac; how it is harvested and processed, as well as detailing some of the challenges that the industry of producing it for commercial use faces.