| There's no doubt about it, eco-friendly wood is all the | | | | wood and forestry practices. |
| rage. There are a lot of companies out there | | | | Finding eco-friendly lumber companies is easier than |
| promoting ipe, teak, tigerwood and other domestic | | | | ever thanks to organizations such as The Forest |
| and exotic hardwoods as eco-friendly. This leads to a | | | | Stewardship Council (FSC) and the United States |
| dilemma; how can consumers find lumber companies | | | | Green Building Council (USGBC). These organizations |
| that are truly dedicated to sustainable forestry | | | | are dedicated to ensuring that the forests and |
| practices and the production of eco-friendly wood? | | | | rainforests where many of these woods come from |
| As the general public becomes more environmentally | | | | are preserved and taken care of for generations to |
| conscious, we must not be quick to believe anything | | | | come. The Forest Stewardship Council also has a |
| labeled organic, eco-friendly, and/or environmentally | | | | strict set of policies and forestry procedures that |
| safe. After all, it's one thing to merely say, or | | | | must be followed to the letter. For example, if a |
| promote yourself as eco-friendly; it's another to | | | | direct importer of ipe decking wants to harvest |
| actually live and form habits that are designed to | | | | some ipe lumber from a managed forest, the FSC will |
| promote an eco-friendly lifestyle and economy. This is | | | | specially designate which trees are to be used, and |
| true whether you are buying ipe decking, tigerwood | | | | which are to be left in place. In addition, the FSC |
| flooring, or even composite decking. | | | | could also require that a FSC Certified lumber |
| To put it simply, companies are trying to cash into | | | | company also harvest some other hardwood such as |
| the green building revolution by simply putting a | | | | cumaru, or garapa. The FSC mandates forestry |
| banner on their website stating that they offer | | | | practices like these in order to balance out the |
| eco-friendly wood. These companies believe that | | | | environment. Only then can that ipe decking receive |
| consumers will go to them, see their website and | | | | FSC Certification. |
| say, "That's it. I've found the perfect place to buy | | | | As you can see, there are valid and reliable non-profit |
| my eco-friendly decking. My search is over!" | | | | resources that are able to adequately provide |
| However, one thing that these companies fail to | | | | decking materials that can truly be called eco-friendly. |
| realize is that homeowners are not as naïve as | | | | Homeowners and builders who want to work with |
| previously hoped. In fact, thanks to the Internet, | | | | lumber companies that are FSC Certified can do so |
| homeowners and builders alike are weeding out those | | | | without worrying about being manipulated. |
| companies who are not committed to sustainable | | | | |