Responsible Forestry

We care how, when, and where our wood is harvested. Our new hardwoods come from well-managed forests and our products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

What is responsible forestry and why is it important?

Almost half of our planet's original forests have disappeared and, of what remains, only 8 percent is protected. Every minute, 64 acres of forest are lost due to illegal or irresponsible logging, land clearance for agriculture or development, or forest fires. According to a recent report by Co-op America, each year, the worldwide loss of forests, and their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, contributes almost as much to climate change as all of the cars driven in the U.S.

Forest preservation requires the use of sustainable forestry practices - that is, practices that maintain or improve the health and integrity of forest ecosystems. The key to sustainable forestry is independent forest certification.

In the time that it takes to read this page, a forested area the size of 60 football fields will disappear.

Forest certification

Forest certification is the most reliable and effective means of protecting forest ecosystems, wildlife, water quality, and surrounding communities. Certification is a market-based (as opposed to regulatory) approach to conservation. It provides independent, third party assurance that a forest or wood products operation:

• Maintains the health and vitality of the total forest ecosystem

• Supports the production of wood on a sustained, renewable basis

• Has positive social and economic impacts on workers and local communities, including indigenous peoples.

There are currently four forestry certification schemes in North America. These schemes vary widely in scope and practice. For a comprehensive comparison, we urge you to consult Metafore’s Certification Resource Center.

Who is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)?

The Forest Stewardship Council is a global non-profit organization that promotes responsible forest management through the establishment of rigorous global standards. FSC was founded in 1993 by environmental groups, the timber industry, foresters, indigenous peoples and community groups from 25 countries. The FSC standards encourage environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests.

We choose to be certified by the FSC because the FSC standard is most closely aligned with our company's priorities and values. In particular, we appreciate that the FSC standard addresses not only environmental issues, but issues related to indigenous rights, community well-being, and socio-economic sustainability.

FSC certification tracks wood from the forest to the final product, enabling consumers and business buyers to purchase products with confidence.

Why do we need FSC? Though steps have been taken to increase forest preservation, illegal logging continues to be a global problem. FSC certification ensures consumers that the products they purchase come from responsibly harvested forests. Dr. Michael P. Washburn addresses the importance of certification programs like the FSC in his article, Why We Need FSC.