Certified Sustainable Lumber Practices

It is important to choose sustainable practices when buying appliances, building resources, etc. Lumber harvesting is one resource that is not always done sustainably. Clear cutting severely damages the environment. Therefore, certified lumber is a much better choice.

To measure the sustainability level of lumber, two main attributes are evaluated: harvesting and chain of custody. The harvesting process is evaluated based on how trees are planted, grown, cut down and renewed to ensure the long-term health and existence of a forest. Chain of custody tracks exactly who or which company touched a piece of lumber, tracing it back to the company that employed the person or machine that cut down the tree. Only 10 percent of the world’s forests are certified sustainable.

Lumber certification alleviates concerns about mismanaged forests that contribute to soil erosion, loss of wildlife, and the clear cutting of old-growth forests. Lumber certification tells an architect or builder a product is made with environmentally responsible practices and material.

Dozens of product certification programs operate worldwide, while two programs take center stage in the United States: The Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council. Both are independent third-party organizations that certify the harvesting process and chain of custody for lumber producers.

Certified sustainable wood costs more, but the impact on the environment is much less drastic than clear cutting.