The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a new, first-of-its kind online tool designed to help users better understand where their wood products are coming from and the safeguards in place throughout the supply chain to ensure sustainability measures. Source: Timberbiz
The tool will provide greater insight into the sourcing of wood products used in low-and zero-carbon construction. The pilot project of the website was funded by the Softwood Lumber Board and the US Endowment for Forestry & Communities funding.
The new Wood Sourcing Tool tells the sustainability story through the incorporation of data based on a wood product’s mill grade stamp or region, information critical to tracking a specific product’s journey from the forest to the end user.
This new tool also features a set of frequently asked questions about sustainable forestry and regional facts about wood sourcing, information that can give users broader understanding about the wood products being used in buildings across the country.
“As questions around the sustainability of fibre supply continues to grow alongside interest in mass timber in commercial construction, this online Wood Sourcing Tool promises to provide regional, robust data that will provide assurances being sought by the architect, engineering and construction communities,” said AWC Vice President of Markets & Sustainability Rachael Jamison.
The sourcing data on the site is based on the ASTM D7612-21 standard, which offers a robust and objective framework for identifying wood product sources. Fiber sourcing data is provided by AWC member companies with manufacturing facilities in the United States and is updated on an annual basis, with 2021 data the most recent available and shown on the site.
When assessing the sustainability of wood products, there are three categories that are applied:
- Non-Controversial – products from non-controversial, or legal, sources are from geographic areas with a low risk of illegal activity or are compliant with legal or proprietary standards.
- Responsible– products from responsible sources are from geographic areas in compliance with an independently certified procurement standard or from geographic areas with programs that implement best management practices.
- Certified – products from certified sources are independently certified to an internationally recognized forest management certification standard.
Each gives different assurances of the practices that take place in the forests where the wood is grown and at the manufacturing site.
