Why is it important to use FSC-certified wood?

When building green, we want to get wood that is sustainably harvested and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The FSC is a nonprofit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world's forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.

Companies that sell timber and forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards. To get the FSC stamp of approval, forest operations must meet 57 criteria, including protection of local wildlife, minimal use of chemical pesticides, even the guarantee that loggers can unionize. If a forest makes the grade, its wood products get branded with the FSC logo and a chain of custody number, which allows them to be traced back to their source.

Today FSC-certified woodlands now blanket 15.5 million acres in the U.S., up from a mere 1.4 million in 1995. Internationally, the numbers are even more compelling, with 135 million acres of FSC-approved forest covering the globe. We've got to remember to save the forest for the trees.