(Mpls, MN) – On June 14, 2010 the US Green Building Council opened its 4th comment period on proposed revisions to its forest certification benchmark, extending the revision process into its 22nd month. While continuing to focus attention on responsible sources of wood, the USGBC has yet to benchmark the known environmental and social problems linked to extraction and processing of other basic materials used in construction, including steel, concrete, and plastics.

“The drawn-out forest certification benchmark revision process could, and should, have focused on development of a generic benchmark standard for construction materials in general,” notes Dr. Jim Bowyer, Director of the Responsible Materials Program within Minneapolis-based Dovetail Partners.

When certification programs were developed for forests and wood, the original focus was on imported tropical wood as the product category most often linked to environmental degradation, illegal activity, corruption, and social upheaval.  A similar problem exists for non-wood construction materials.  The worst examples of mining for metals and other materials can be found in the tropical countries and where less rigorous environmental standards, laws, and law enforcement exist.  The United States is an importer of vast quantities of these materials.

“Because of a lack of oversight as to where materials other than wood originate or how they are produced, there is little doubt that some materials finding their way each day into “green” buildings are anything but green,” says Bowyer.  He also points out that the current system can actually encourage use of materials with known severe negative environmental impacts.

Certification of building materials is no longer an abstract concept.  Certification of wood is well established, as are mechanisms such as source separation and chain of custody for ensuring the veracity of certified content.

“If the elements of responsible production are important,” observes Kathryn Fernholz, Executive Director of Dovetail Partners, “it is time to ask why such assurances are not expected for building materials in general, and why the nation’s leading green building program hasn’t taken action to address this issue. There is nothing standing in the way of USGBC initiating the development of a generic building materials standard.”

Further information regarding responsible materials for green building and a template for generic standard development can be found at:

Certification of Building Materials: Important or Not?

http://www.dovetailinc.org/files/DovetailCertMat0209.pdf

USGBC Forest Certification Benchmarks: An Opportunity for the Development of Certification Standards for All Building Materials

http://www.dovetailinc.org/files/DovetailUSGBC1009.pdf

Read the latest blog post on goodforforests.com.  Jason Metnick, SFI Senior Director of Market Access and Label Use, provides an update on LEED benchmarks.

As you may have seen, the USGBC recently requested comments on a fourth round of draft benchmarks to evaluate forest certification programs in its LEED green building rating system. SFI has cautioned the USGBC that a process like the one currently proposed could result in never ending revisions, assessments and evaluations year after year with no clear results. We believe it is time for USGBC’s leadership to end this process and give credit for wood use and forest certification standards.

Read more.

Taking another important step in its ongoing environmental commitment, The Sheridan Press, a provider of printing and publishing services to the scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journal markets announced it has met Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) fiber sourcing requirements at its Hanover, PA, facility.

“At The Sheridan Press, we have a strong commitment to responsible forest management, and so do our customers,” said Ed Hartman, Vice President of Operations. “SFI fiber sourcing plays a critical role in our environmental policy, and empowers our customers to make an educated choice about the print products they buy.”

More than 190 million acres across North America are certified to the SFI forest management standard, making it the largest single forest standard in the world. Through its fiber sourcing certification, the independent, non-profit SFI program stands apart from other certification programs by addressing the fact that 90 percent of the world’s forests are not certified.

An SFI fiber sourcing label tells consumers the fiber in a product is from a legal and responsible source, regardless of whether the forest is certified. In the United States and Canada, there must be an auditable procurement process in place showing that, among other things, participants are supporting landowners in promoting reforestation, protecting threatened and endangered species, and strengthening best management practices to protect water quality.

When sourcing fiber from outside of North America, program participants must perform risk assessments to avoid controversial sources such as illegal harvesting operations or areas of civil unrest, and must promote the conservation of biological diversity.

“SFI fiber sourcing certification supports family forest owners across North America,” says SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow. “It helps them protect threatened and endangered species, promote reforestation and strengthen best management practices to protect water quality.”

About The Sheridan Press
Located in Hanover, PA, The Sheridan Press (www.sheridanpress.com) is a full-service print and publishing services provider to scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals and special interest publications. It is one of six printing companies within The Sheridan Group (Hunt Valley, MD).

About SFI Inc.
SFI Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, and is solely responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the internationally recognized Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program . Across North America, more than 190 million acres are certified to the SFI forest management standard, making it the largest single standard in the world. The SFI program’s unique fiber sourcing requirements promote responsible forest management on all suppliers’ lands. SFI Inc. is governed by a three chamber board of directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally.

 SFI’s Statement on the USGBC’s Fourth Draft Forest Certification Benchmarks

June 15, 2010

 World’s Largest Certification Standard Continues to Urge the U.S. Green Building Council to Support  North America’s Forests

June 15, 2010 – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released for public comment a 4th round of draft benchmarks to evaluate forest certification programs.  The Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® (SFI) – the world’s largest single forest certification standard – continues to urge the USGBC to end a forest certification policy that discriminates against North American forests and against almost all of the independent forest certification standards used in the United States and Canada. 

 There are few substantial changes between the 3^rd round of benchmarks and the 4^th round of benchmarks.  The 81 benchmarks as currently drafted remain overly detailed and complex.  In many instances, benchmarks are vague and will require further interpretation on the intent.  It’s worth noting no other building material has to go through this level of scrutiny for just one point. 

 “SFI is a globally recognized, science based forest certification program with a variety of conservation and community partners,” said SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow. “As the USGBC continues to court a half decade long process to figure out wood and the forest certification credits, the rest of the world has long moved on and get it already – wood is a sound and responsible building material and forest certification is an added proof point that forests are well managed.”

 The USGBC benchmark development process, which officially began in 2005, may result in the continued exclusion of independent forest certification standards used in North America, including SFI, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), the Canadian Standards Association’s (CSA) Sustainable Forest Management Standard, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).  With close to 200 million acres (81 million hectares) certified to the SFI Standard in North America, and another 183 million more acres (74million hectares) certified to CSA and ATFS combined, more than three quarters of the certified fiber in North America is not recognized by LEED’s certified wood credit.  Excluding these programs means excluding responsibly-managed, third-party certified forests and the communities and jobs that depend on them in the United States and Canada.

“SFI has cautioned the USGBC that a process like the one currently proposed could result in never ending revisions, assessments and evaluations year after year with no clear results.” said Kathy Abusow, “It is time for USGBC’s leadership to move on and give credit for wood use and forest certification standards. That is what SFI says, what government agencies say, and what professional foresters and their societies and institutes believe.”

“The SFI community strongly supports green building and we believe SFI and other credible certification programs are a clear fit for green building rating systems.” said Jason Metnick, SFI Senior Director of Market Access and Product Labeling, “Wood from responsibly-managed forests, like those certified to the SFI Standard, is an excellent choice for any new construction or renovation.  Wood is renewable, it sequesters carbon and it is powered by solar energy; these factors, coupled with wood’s desirable aesthetic and structural characteristics, make it good for green building.  However, the USGBC continues to fall short when recognizing the true merits of wood.”

Support for recognition of multiple forest certification standards is strong and broad.   

More than 5,700 forestry experts, architects, builders, government officials, conservationists and many others have urged the USGBC to recognize all credible forest certification standards by signing SFI’s online petition. Many more have sent letters directly to the USGBC to voice concern, including representatives of the US and Canadian Government. 

• Nine U.S. Governors – representing Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, and Washington – have written letters to the USGBC to voice their concerns over the current approach to wood product certification.  The Chairs of both the Senate and House of Representative Agricultural Committees have also written letters.  So have six additional US representatives from both sides of the aisle.
• The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers as well as individual provincial ministers have written letters to the USGBC to show their support for all credible forest certification standards.

 Forestry Experts Clearly Support Credible Certification Standards and Offer a Path Forward.

 Forestry Experts from Canada and the US also agree LEED should be opened to all credible forest certification standards.  The Canadian Institute of Forestry penned a letter to the USGBC voicing concern, and in the US, a 2008 resolution from the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) stated that requirements for certification should recognize ATFS, FSC, SFI, and all other credible options.  The resolution goes on to state that “there is no single ‘best’ forest certification program.” 

NASF also proposed criteria they believe constitute a credible forest certification program; we encourage USGBC to use these simple and straightforward criteria developed by forestry experts.

1.)    Independent Governance – The governance body should include economic, environmental, and social interests and operate independently from participants and compliance verifiers or auditors.

2.)    Multi-Stakeholder Standard – A diverse group representing forestry, wildlife, conservation, industry, government, and academic expertise should establish an objective Standard for sustainable forestry with specific performance measures.

3.)    Independent Certification – Certification requires verifying compliance with the Standard during full certification and periodic surveillance audits. This should be accomplished by independent, qualified, and accredited third-party auditors. Auditors should meet professional standards established by an independent accreditation body such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

4.)    Credible Complaints & Appeals Process – There should be a clear process for credibly responding to on-the-ground compliance concerns or certification challenges.

5.)    Open Participation and Transparency – Public and private sector landowners, including family forest owners, should have access to any forest certification program for which they qualify.

International Due Diligence from Governments and Numerous Green Building Rating Systems Reveal Consistent Approach to Forest Certification.

The Central Expertise Point of Trade (CEPT) in the United Kingdom has also recognized all credible forest certification programs.  This is a process similar to USGBC where the UK Government set benchmarks for wood and paper products sold into the United Kingdom, and then assessed the different standards.  This process concluded SFI along with FSC, CSA and PEFC meet the criteria for the UK Government.

Numerous green building rating systems around the globe have recognized all credible forest certification programs in their rating systems.  This includes ANSI/ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard, ANSI/GBI Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings, Built Green Canada, CASBEE in Japan, BREEAM in the United Kingdom and the Australian Green Building Council’s Green Star Program.  Furthermore, we are now seeing green building codes recognize all credible forest certification programs, including the draft International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and ASHRE 189.1. 

 “Whether it is ANSI standards in the USA or green building standards in Canada, the UK, Japan or Australia, you’ll find consistent recognition of wood and the importance of forest certification standards, which is especially critical since just 10% of the world’s forests are certified to any standard,” continued Metnick.

 “It’s time for the USGBC to sunset this lethargic benchmark process , and once and for all recognize all credible forest certification programs like SFI, FSC, CSA, ATFS and PEFC,” concluded Kathy Abusow. 

 Additional information:

• Elected officials, government agencies, professional foresters and other stakeholders across North America have voiced concern over exclusive forest certification policies in green building rating tools.  These quotes and statements are available on our website at: http://www.sfiprogram.org/files/pdf/statements_leed_us.pdf
• Read our March 2010 statement here: http://www.sfiprogram.org/newsroom/?p=245
• Download our Fact Sheet on SFI and Green Building here: http://www.sfiprogram.org/files/pdf/New%20Green%20Building%20Fact%20Sheet%205.17.10.pdf
• Watch our video clip on the USGBC, green building and forest certification here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLEjGP8_lS4

 For information on how you can make a difference during the USGBC’s benchmark process, contact Jason Metnick at Jason.Metnick@sfiprogram.org or Nadine Block at Nadine.Block@sfiprogram.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE �
June 2, 2010

Contact: Rick Cantrell
SFI Vice-President and COO
864-653-7224

WASHINGTON – Non-profit Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Inc. released its latest progress report today, Power of Partnerships, which demonstrates how diverse partnerships can strengthen forest practices and deliver science-based actions that benefit forests and communities across North America and beyond.

 The SFI progress report tracks the phenomenal growth of the independent third-party forest certification program in 2009 and early 2010, and shows the contribution of a variety of collaborative activities – including the new SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant program and the open review process that led to the SFI 2010-2014 Standard.

 “The SFI program has a diverse range of partners because we respect and value all contributions,” SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow said. “At a time when less than 10 percent of the world’s forests are certified, SFI Inc. builds on the power of partnerships to raise awareness of how forest certification can support responsible forest management. The SFI program is relevant and effective because our door is always wide open.”

Close to 200 million acres/80 million hectares are certified to the SFI forest management standard in North America – making it the largest single forest standard in the world. Its influence goes beyond certified lands with programming that includes landowner outreach, logger training, research activities, and conservation and community collaboration. 

From the start of 2009 to the end of April 2010, the number of SFI chain-of-custody certificates, chain-of-custody certified locations and fiber sourcing label certificates more than doubled. “Our phenomenal growth reflects the confidence and respect we have earned by inviting others to work with us and delivering results together,” Abusow said. “This growth also places the SFI program in a leadership position to bring together people from different backgrounds and viewpoints to achieve a common goal – improved forest practices.”

The SFI program works with community organizations, companies of all sizes, government agencies, conservation groups, Aboriginal peoples, customers and family forest owners across the United States and Canada. More than 2,500 individuals and organizations are working with the SFI program – meeting its requirements and/or supporting its efforts to encourage and promote responsible forestry.

The SFI External Review Panel, a group of independent experts representing conservation, environment, professional, academic and public organizations, advises the SFI Inc. Board of Directors on ways to improve the SFI program. This includes reviewing the progress report and monitoring the standard review process.

“The Panel can attest to the significant progress the SFI community has made over the past year and we’ve seen firsthand what the power of partnerships can do,” said External Review Panel Chair Michael Goergen, Executive Vice-President of the Society of American Foresters. “A transparent revision process and new requirements set out in the SFI 2010-2014 Standard, as well as SFI’s commitment to collaboration indicate the growing capacity and willingness of SFI program participants to achieve notably higher forestry standards and partnerships with each passing year.”

Some of the collaborative activities featured in the SFI progress report include:

• SFI 2010-2014 Standard – An 18-month consultative process led to the new SFI 2010-2014 Standard – more than 2,000 people were invited to comment; and their contributions shaped the new standard. The standard is based on 14 core principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value.
• Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program ­­– This new initiative strengthens the SFI program’s commitment to conservation research and community partnerships through grants for collaborative activities that complement government initiatives. In 2009, SFI program participants invested $73.2 million for research activities that improve the health, productivity and responsible management of forest resources, bringing the total since 1995 to more than $1.1 billion. 
• Habitat for Humanity – The SFI program and its partners are investing time and resources to help several Habitat for Humanity affiliates transform lives by providing decent homes, and building them with forest products from responsible sources. SFI partners have helped build Habitat homes in Maine, Manitoba, Minnesota, Ontario and Tennessee. 
• SFI Implementation Committees – A cornerstone to the SFI program since its start, the 37 grassroots committees involve close to 1,000 people, and in 2009 contributed $3 million to support local programs such as education and training for loggers and foresters, and outreach to family forest owners. The total contribution since 1995 is $55.1 million.

The progress report is posted on the SFI website . More information about the SFI External Review Panel can be found at www.sfiprogram.org/sustainable-forestry-initiative/external-review-panel.php.

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About SFI Inc.

SFI Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, and is solely responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program (www.sfiprogram.org), that is internationally recognized and among the largest in the world. It is one of the fastest-growing forest certification programs with close to 200 million acres/80 million hectares of SFI-certified forests across North America. The SFI Standard also includes unique fiber sourcing requirements that promote responsible forest management on all suppliers’ lands. SFI chain-of-custody certification tracks certified, uncertified, and recycled content as applicable in the product. The SFI forest standard is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, a global umbrella organization that has strict requirements for endorsement. SFI Inc. is governed by a three-chamber board of directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally.