It’s Not Easy Finding Eco-Wood
Posted on Mon Jul 6 2009
If you are trying to be environmentally aware, clear labelling is very helpful. Whether it’s organic or fair trade, ethical or not tested on animals, certification is the new trend. But not all labels are created equal. Take organic products – there are many different certifying bodies, and it has been unclear whether different groups meet uniform standards. The Canadian government has responded to this issue by developing regulations.However, for many industries, there are still no standardized guidelines. And ecologically certified wood is no exception. A recent article in the online magazine, The Tyee, reports on the battle between two major organizations. Both are forestry certification non-profit organizations with products ranging from lumber to paper. The two groups are vying for large contracts with companies like 3M, IKEA, Disney, and Grand and Toy.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was started in 1993 to promote responsible forest management. Millions of hectares worldwide have been certified, with a system that allows for different regional standards. Another aspect of FSC is that management principles are agreed upon by the membership in a democratic process, guided by expert opinion.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) also arose in the 1990s, recognizing the need for independently certified forest products. It offers a single standardized certification across North America. SFI was started by the forestry industry and is now a registered charity run by a Board of Directors - made up of various stakeholders including both professional foresters and conservation representatives.
The problem is that going green is big business these days. Certified ecologically-sustainable wood products are very appealing to consumers. However, different criteria mean that different certifications are not completely equal. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) includes environmental guidelines such as prohibiting hazardous pesticides and genetically modified trees, as well as emphasizing the rights of indigenous groups. In comparison, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) does not dictate forest management practices above applicable laws and encouraging educational programs.
One argument is that any eco-certification is better than none. Certainly, certification ensures that illegal logging has not taken place. However, some environmental groups are speaking out about practices like clear-cutting and logging in sensitive areas. The debate makes one thing obvious - if you use a lot of wood products, it’s well worth finding out where they came from and how they were harvested. A simple certification symbol may not be sufficient.
Photo credit: chapstick32@Flickr.com
2 Comments so far!!
You definitely nailed how industry self-regulation (SFI) measures up with advocacy-based regulation (FSC). With publishing, it took agitating from an organization like the Green Press Initiative for the industry to look into greener practices. In the lumber industry, consumer awareness from years of environmental advocacy has made an organization like the FSC viable, but has also helped the industry create its own, less inhibiting counterpart. We can only hope consumers will see the difference and buy accordingly.
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The SFI Forest Management Standard has requirements above and beyond the code of law, for example there are requirements on reducing the impact and spread of invasive exotic species, and requirements regarding old-growth forests. The outreach and education requirements come into play in the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard, where mills must work with non-certified landowners to educate them on reforestation, and use of trained loggers, among other activities, which in effect raises the bar on management activities on non-certified land. All SFI certification audits are performed by independent and internationally accredited certification bodies.
There is room for all credible certification programs in the market where only 10% of the world’s forests are certified. The strength of the SFI standard is why many respected organizations view SFI, FSC and the Canadian Standards Association as credible independent forest certification standards – including the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, the United Kingdom’s independent Central Point of Expertise on Timber and the Competition Bureau of Canada.
I agree with you in that people should be concerned about where their wood is coming from. As a North American based forest certification program, SFI certified companies can provide a steady supply of North American grown wood products from certified forests and through certified fiber sourcing. This is a good thing for North America's forests, communities, and for those that earn a living from working in the woods and managing forests and harvesting operations in a responsible and sustainable manner. So if you care about North American forests, communities and jobs, feel good about recognizing and rewarding leadership and buying SFI labeled products.
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