| Currently, there is no clearly defined definition of | | | | is recommended and rewarded. |
| sustainable wood. This fact leads to much confusion | | | | Here are some critical questions to ask to be 100% |
| since the market for sustainable wood is growing due | | | | certain that you are working with an eco-friendly |
| to increased demand and public interest. You need to | | | | lumber company that sells sustainable wood: |
| do your research if you are someone looking to buy | | | | 1) Do they harvest dead or fallen trees so that new |
| "sustainable wood." Not all products that are labeled | | | | trees can grow? |
| eco-friendly are truly genuine. There are lumber | | | | 2) Are they certified by the Forest Stewardship |
| companies out there that are unscrupulous enough to | | | | Council? |
| merely slap a "Sustainable decking" or "Sustainable | | | | 3) Do they also harvest trees that no longer produce |
| flooring" label on any old bundle of wood. | | | | seeds? |
| There are many woods that many companies like to | | | | 4) Are they members of the United States Green |
| call "sustainable." Some lumber companies go out of | | | | Building Council? |
| there way to tell you that they have the best wood, | | | | 5) Do they plant at least five new trees for every |
| but their competitors do not. Why? Maybe it has | | | | one that they cut? |
| something to do with the fact that they only sell | | | | 6) Do they practice selective logging? |
| certain types of wood whereas their competitors | | | | While there is no strict and worldwide definition of |
| have a completely different selection of species. | | | | sustainable wood, there is a general consensus that |
| Here's the deal. While there are definitely species of | | | | sustainable wood is harvested from managed forests |
| trees that are endangered, those trees are mostly | | | | and forestry practices that don't just focus on |
| protected by national governments and are not sold | | | | harvesting trees, but cultivating them as well. What's |
| through normal means. However, when it comes to | | | | more, these sustainable forestry practices can |
| sustainable wood in legitimate markets, it's not so | | | | expand to other tree species as well. For instance, if |
| much the wood, but HOW the wood was cultivated | | | | you choose to buy sustainable ipe decking from a |
| and harvested that make it sustainable. So, how do | | | | FSC Chain of Custody company, you can rest easy |
| you find lumber companies that actually have wood | | | | knowing that for every tree that was cut, at least |
| that has been responsibly grown and cut through | | | | another fiver were planted. In addition, it's also a |
| sustainable forestry practices? | | | | common practice in eco-friendly forestry to not just |
| Buyer's who are looking for a way to sort out lumber | | | | plant and cultivate one specific tree. In fact, the FSC |
| companies need to, first and foremost, find out if | | | | may mandate that in order to harvest some ipe |
| they are certified through the Forest Stewardship | | | | wood, a lumber company will have to plant some |
| Council. The FSC is a non-partisan, non-profit, | | | | other species of tree in another region. |
| worldwide organization that, since 1993, has been | | | | The sustainable wood market will continue to grow. |
| dedicated to promoting eco-friendly forestry and | | | | There's no doubt that with increased social |
| sustainable forestry practices. They have set up a | | | | awareness about environmental issues, the public will |
| strict set of policies and procedures and have offices | | | | continue to demand lumber companies bring more |
| throughout the world whose job it is to ensure that | | | | sustainable wood products. As long as you do your |
| these regulations are followed. To say that the FSC | | | | research and promote the companies that are doing |
| has made a lasting impact in green building and the | | | | business the right way, this trend will continue and |
| green economy is an understatement. This is why, if | | | | sustainable wood will not just become a niche |
| you are looking to build a LEED home that is certified | | | | product, but the standard wood product for the |
| through the United States Green Building Council, the | | | | foreseeable future. |
| use of FSC wood like FSC ipe and other hardwoods | | | | |