FPAC Applauds Expanded U.S. Recognition of Forest Certification

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) applauds today’s news that the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will now recognize wood and paper products certified by a variety of authorities.

The USGBC has previously recognized only sustainable forest management certification from a single standard. But the USGBC says builders and architects can now get credit for the use of wood and paper products certified by a number of standards authorities.

For Canadian forest products companies, this change will mean increased market access for some products, wider recognition of the value of some Canadian forest products, and, potentially, increased revenue and employment for the forest products sector.

“This is great news because it means more of our sustainable development practices will be recognized in more markets, which will increase the value of our forests and forest products,” said Derek Nighbor, FPAC’s chief executive officer. “It’s a win for our forest products companies and for the thousands of Canadians who work in our sector, or want to do so.”

Certification of forests is an independent assessment that a forest products company follows progressive environmental and social practices.

Canada is a global leader in forest management. Canada has 166 million hectares or 40% of the world’s certified forest, by far the most in the world and almost four times more than any other country. Only about 10% of global forests are certified.

FPAC is the only forest products association in the world to require that its members are 100% third-party certified across all operations.

Building with wood is good for the environment and our communities. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, sequestering and storing the carbon — this reduces greenhouse gases and improves air quality.
http://www.fpac.ca/fpac-applauds-expanded-u-s-recognition-of-forest-certification/