Third-party forest certification based on standards developed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the best way to ensure that wood products come from well-managed forests. Wood products must go through a chain-of-custody certification process to carry an FSC stamp.
Manufactured wood products can meet the FSC certification requirements with less than 100% certified wood content through percentage-based claims (30% certified content is required if only virgin wood fiber is used; certified-wood content as low as 17.5% is allowable if the rest of the fiber content is from recycled sources).
With a few special-case exceptions, FSC-based certification is a requirement for GreenSpec inclusion of any nonsalvaged solid-wood product and most other wood products. A few manufactured wood products, including engineered lumber and particleboard/MDF, can be included if they have other environmental advantages--such as absence of formaldehyde binders. Engineered wood products in GreenSpec do not qualify by virtue of their resource efficiency benefits alone (for more on this, see EBN, Vol. 8, No. 11).
Advantage FSC-Certified Trim and Lumber
Advantage offers a range of FSC-certified hardwood flooring and decking, including ipe, tigerwood, garapa, and cumaru. The lumber is custom-milled in South America and at Advantage's three U.S. locations.
Pressures on timber supply are especially acute for high-visibility, solid-wood products like window sash and molding, which have traditionally been produced from old-growth trees. GreenSpec lists millwork that is made of FSC-certified wood, reclaimed wood, fiberboard, or agricultural fiber such as straw.
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) molding made from post-industrial wood wastes is an excellent substitute for paint-grade moldings. The consistent quality and economical price of MDF moldings is broadening its market share. Some MDF is available with a non-formaldehyde binder.
With similar qualities to wood particleboard and Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), straw particleboard is made from the stems left over after harvesting the cereal grains, such as wheat, oats, and rice. This is a substitute for paint-grade moldings, offering consistent quality and economy, though it is somewhat rougher and more porous than MDF and does not mill as smoothly. Straw particleboard is made using a non-formaldehyde PMDI binder.
Be aware that reclaimed wood may contain lead paint; testing is recommended if lead paint residue is suspected.
Some companies listed here may sell both FSC-certified and noncertified products or carry other types of certification that don't qualify for GreenSpec. To ensure the use of environmentally responsible wood products, be sure to specify FSC-certified wood when contacting these companies.
GreenSpec lists wood decking that is made of FSC-certified wood or reclaimed wood. Greenspec also lists Preserved-Wood Decking that provides enhanced durability without the environmental concerns of typical wood preservatives.
Some companies listed here may sell both FSC-certified and noncertified products or carry other types of certification that don't qualify for GreenSpec. To ensure the use of environmentally responsible wood products, be sure to specify FSC-certified wood when contacting these companies.
GreenSpec lists wood flooring that is made of FSC-certified wood, reclaimed wood, or suppressed wood.
The availability of domestic hardwood from third-party FSC-certified forests makes flooring a great application for certified wood. Some companies listed here sell both certified and noncertified wood products, or products that have been certified according to different, less stringent environmental standards.To make certain that you get environmentally responsible wood products, be sure to specify FSC-certified wood.
The availability of reclaimed-wood flooring may vary by region. White pine, longleaf yellow pine, cypress, oak, walnut, and chestnut reclaimed-wood flooring may be available from Eastern and Midwestern suppliers. Western suppliers commonly stock Douglas fir. Plan your needs with plenty of lead time, as availability and pricing fluctuate widely.
Suppressed wood comes from trees growing in the understory of mature forests—usually where forestry practices have prevented fires, so natural thinning and succession hasn't occurred. It is now generally recognized that overly dense forests increase fire hazard and leave trees vulnerable to insect infestation and disease. These small, slow-growing trees were once regarded as waste, suitable only for fuel and firewood. Attributes of these trees include close grain, fine texture, and small tight knots. This can provide a raw material for joinery, flooring, and panels.
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