Twelve Firms Ready to Supply LEED & Green Building Projects with Certified Products

Gary@TrueNorthCertified.com / www.TrueNorthCertified.com

The “great recession” may have dented the sales of producers of wood products, but twelve Minnesota firms are preparing for the economic rebound with the awarding of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for their wood-based products.

On June 18, the True North Certified Forest Products Network announced that the Network and its twelve member firms had received FSC Chain-of-Custody certification for an array of products manufactured from wood originating in well-managed FSC certified forests or from reclaimed/recycled sources.

“As increasing numbers of architects, builders, remodelers and homeowners are looking to build green and applying for LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) and MN GreenStar certification,” states Jeff Forsythe of Nordecor in Brainerd, “I felt that it was time to prepare our company to serve this growing market segment through FSC certification. The True North Network offered us the opportunity to achieve FSC certification in a quick and very resourceful manner.  It was also timely in that we are now one of the few companies of our type that has been awarded the new FSC Recycle certification, thus allowing us to certify the authenticity of our reclaimed barn-wood line.”

The FSC certification allows the twelve companies to sell FSC-certified and labeled products ranging from lumber and timbers to flooring and paneling, to cabinetry and custom furniture, to architectural millwork and staircase components, to fireplace mantels and art doors, to log siding and decking.

“Our business is focusing on local, green, quality wall and ceiling hardwood paneling products,” according to Tom Brand of Grand Arbor in St. Paul. “The True North Woods® certification assures customers that our products come from Minnesota forests and the FSC certification assures customers that they come from well-managed forests.”

Persons interested in more information about finding FSC certified suppliers or companies inquiring about becoming FSC certified may contact the Network at 1-888-223-5629, email Info@TrueNorthCertified.com, or visit the Network’s website at www.TrueNorthCertified.com.

The True North Certified Forest Products Network offers small primary and secondary manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of forest-based products access to membership in a group FSC Chain-of-Custody certification program. The Network is a program of the Minnesota Wood Education Project, a non-profit organization committed to increasing awareness of the value of sustainable management of our forests and improving the economies of our communities.

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organization that supports and promotes forest management standards that are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable.

The firms that are members of the Network are: Bemidji Millworks, Bemidji (www.bemidjimillworks.com), Creative Sawmilling & Products, Bovey (www.truenorthwoods.com/tnw.ashx), Duluth Timber Company, Duluth (www.duluthtimber.com), Fallsburg Woodworking, Little Falls (www.fallsburg.net), Forest Specialties, Golden Valley (www.forestspecialtiesinc.net), Grand Arbor, St. Paul (www.grand-arbor.com), J.W. Beltman Woodworking, Nashwauk (www.truenorthwoods.com/tnw.ashx), Kukkeli Kuu Naturalists, Bovey (www.truenorthwoods.com/tnw.ashx),  Nordecor, Brainerd (www.nordecor.com), True North Cedar, Duluth (www.truenorthcedar.com), Wille Logging, Puposky (www.willellt.blogspot.com), and Woodmax, Paynesville (www.woodmax.net).

Ready to Supply LEED & Green Building Projects with Local and FSC Certified Products

Gary@TrueNorthCertified.com / www.TrueNorthCertified.com

 On November 4, the True North Certified Forest Products Network and the True North Certified Forestland Network announced that the Networks and their members had received FSC Chain-of-Custody and/or Forest Management certification for an array of products manufactured from wood originating in well-managed FSC certified forests or from reclaimed/recycled sources.

The “great recession” may have dented the sales of  wood products, but wood product manufacturers and forestland owners are preparing for the economic rebound with the awarding of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

Persons interested in more information about finding FSC certified suppliers, or manufacturers and forestland owners inquiring about becoming FSC certified, may contact the Network at 1-888-223-5629, email Info@TrueNorthCertified.com, or visit the Network’s website at www.TrueNorthCertified.com.

“As increasing numbers of architects, builders, remodelers and homeowners are looking to build green and applying for LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) and MN GreenStar certification,” states Jeff Forsythe of Nordecor in Brainerd, “I felt that it was time to prepare our company to serve this growing market segment through FSC certification. The True North Network offered us the opportunity to achieve FSC certification in a quick and very resourceful manner.  It was also timely in that we are now one of the few companies of our type that has been awarded the new FSC Recycle certification, thus allowing us to certify the authenticity of our reclaimed barn-wood line.”

The FSC certification allows the manufacturers and forestland owners to sell FSC certified and labeled products ranging from timber and lumber, to flooring and paneling, to cabinetry and custom furniture, to architectural millwork and staircase components, to fireplace mantels and art doors, to log siding and decking.

“Our business is focusing on local, green, quality wall and ceiling hardwood paneling products,” according to Tom Brand of Grand Arbor in St. Paul. “The True North Woods® certification assures customers that our products come from Minnesota forests, and the FSC certification assures customers that they come from well-managed forests.”

The True North Certified Forest Products Network offers primary and secondary manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of forest-based products access to membership in a group FSC Chain-of-Custody certification program. The True North Certified Forestland Network offers forestland owners access to membership in a group FSC Forest Management certification program.

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organization that supports and promotes forest management standards that are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable. The Networks are a service of the Minnesota Wood Education Project and were developed with the assistance of Dovetail Partners.

True North Certified Forest Product Network, Certification Code SCS-COC-002432.

True North Certified Forestland Network, Certification Code SCS-FM/COC-000119G.

True North LSSC Program Information & Requirements

at www.TrueNorthLSSC.com

Purpose

vTo increase the utilization of products in LEED, MN GreenStar, and other green building/remodeling projects that are either (a) produced within a 500 mile radius of Minneapolis, MN or (b) have FSC and/or True North Woods^® certification.

vTo assist building/remodeling projects pursuing LEED, MN GreenStar, and other certifications in obtaining local/regional materials and/or FSC credits.

Approach

vIdentify suppliers of forest-based products within a 500 mile radius of Minneapolis that can supply building and remodeling projects with products that meet the LEED and MN GreenStar requirements for FSC certified products and/or local/regional materials.

vIdentify suppliers of other products within a 500 mile radius of Minneapolis that can supply building and remodeling projects with products that meet the LEED and MN GreenStar requirements for local/regional materials.

vDevelop a LSSC database for managing suppliers, products, and FSC and True North Woods^® (TNW) certifications.

vDevelop a LSSC website that can be accessed for lists of participating suppliers with search capabilities by product and LSSC website.

vPromote the LSSC to architects, builders, remodelers, consumers and others that are interested in LEED, MN GreenStar, and green building through the website, e-blast communications, publicity and media releases, direct mail programs, targeted advertising, trade and association shows, and selective person and telephone contacts.

vReceive inquiries for products, match the inquiries with participating suppliers, and forward inquiries to matched suppliers.

Supplier Requirements

v Supplier. Must be located within a 500 mile radius of Minneapolis, MN and may be a producing, processing, manufacturing, wholesaling, or retailing entity.

v Listed Products. Must meet one or more of the following criteria:

§ Local/Regional Materials. A percentage of a listed product must be “extracted/harvested/recovered/ salvaged” and “manufactured”  and shipped from within a 500 mile radius of Minneapolis, MN.

§ FSC Certified Products. A listed product must be FSC certified.

§ TNW Certified Products. A listed product must be True North Woods^® certified.

v Listing Fee. No fee for 2009-2010 charter participants. Thereafter, plan no fee for suppliers with 10 or fewer FTE employees, and $30 annual fee for suppliers with more than 10 FTE employees.

Application Process

vSuppliers will complete and submit a LSSC application form and supply references.

vApplications will be reviewed, and those meeting the above supplier requirements will be approved for listing products with the LSSC program.

References & Links

vLSSC. True North Local/Sustainable Supplier Consortium Minneapolis. www.TrueNorthLSSC.com.

vLEED. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. www.usgbc.org àLEEDàRatingSystems.

vMN GreenStar. www.mngreenstar.org.

vFSC. Forest Stewardship Council. www.fscus.org.

vTNW. True North Woods®. www.TrueNorthWoods.com.

vDovetail Partners. www.dovetailinc.org.

vMinnesota Building Materials Database. www.buildingmaterials.umn.edu.

Information

For additional information, call 651-223-5629 or email Info@TrueNorthLSSC.com.