Too much information...
I don't think the phenol used to make Bakelite comes from pine... probably from coal or petroleum.
Molding Bakelite is more involved than molding thermoplastics (like polypropylene). Bakelite has to be done at higher temperature and pressure. It also can't be melted...
One word: plastics.
Bakelite comes in dark colors because it's actually sawdust or carbon black stuck together with phenolic plastic. The dark colors hide the fillers.
Phenolic plastic without the fillers is called Catalin... it usually comes in bright colors.
