NWFA Program Encourages Responsible Sourcing

St. Louis, MO, Oct. 24, 2008--The National Wood Flooring Associations has begun a partnership with Scientific Certification Systems, Forest Stewardship Council, and the FSC Family Forests Alliance to develop and promote the NWFA Responsible Procurement Program (RPP).

The goal is to harness the power of the U.S. wood flooring industry to recognize and promote environmentally and socially responsible forest management.

The RPP provides progressive “tiers” in which participants gradually move upward toward higher levels of social and environmental responsibility and performance.

Tier 1 requires participation in the NWFA Verified Renewing Forests program – and enables use of the NWFA Verified Sourced from U.S. Renewing Forests label – for domestically sourced wood flooring products in off-product claims only. It also requires participation in the NWFA Verified Legal Origin program for imported products from high-risk countries and enables use of the NWFA Verified Legal Imported label.

Tier 2 requires FSC Chain-of-Custody certification and a commitment to building trade in FSC-certified wood products. Participants also are required to meet FSC Controlled Wood standards for all of their non-FSC certified supply within two years of progressing to Tier 2. Importers from high-risk countries advancing to Tier 2 are required to complete the NWFA Verified Legal Origin program for all products that require legality verification.

Program participants have three years to progress from Tier 1 to Tier 2.

Tier 3 is the highest level of achievement within the program. It grants recognition to companies whose trade in FSC-certified products exceeds 50% of overall sales and whose non-FSC sales meet FSC Controlled Wood standards.

Quality assurance for the NWFA RPP is provided by Scientific Certification Systems.

Invitations are being sent to NWFA Member Manufacturers for a Hardwood Summit on Dec. 9-10 in St. Louis to present full details of the program and to address industry issues.