AHMI & WPMA Sponsor Workshops on SFI Certification

Industry leaders know their choice of wood products has a direct impact on forests and communities at home and around the world. That’s why many companies include certification in their procurement policies and environmental value statements, including building and design products retailers and the designers and architects who use them.

Dozens of hardwood product manufacturers are choosing to certify their products to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) Standards, a marketing movement which is growing across North America. Learn how these companies are using SFI certification to improve their sales and marketing opportunities at two workshops set for this fall by Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. and the Wood Products Manufacturers Association.

The workshops are set for:

  • Sawmills and Primary Processors – Oct. 25 from 2-5 pm at the Omni Nashville Hotel in conjunction with the National Hardwood Lumber Association convention
  • Secondary Manufacturers and Designers – Nov. 2 from 9-11:30 am at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Airport, Newark, NJ

The demand for SFI Certified wood products was expanded in 2016 when the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) issued an Alternative Compliance Path (ACP) that recognizes SFI. This move has further strengthened the LEED program and expanded support for using responsibly sourced wood in building design and construction. LEED is the latest of more than 10 green building rating systems active in U.S. and Canada that recognize SFI as a credible certification standard and offer credits for incorporating certified building products to meet green building standards.

As the largest single forest certification standard in the world, the SFI program is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for certified products. During these workshops, SFI will present information on market trends and how to obtain third-party certification to the SFI Standard.  There are many reasons why companies certify to the SFI Standards:

  • MARKET ACCESS: Access to current and future markets increasingly depends on certification as the ticket to market entry.
  • COMPETITION: Increasingly, wood product manufacturers are creating their own competitive edge by certifying their operations and products to the SFI standards.
  • LEED RECOGNITION OF SFI: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is one of the world’s most popular green building certification programs. Using wood products certified to SFI can now earn LEED points in green building projects and is a reason for builders and architects to seek SFI-certified wood products.

Learning Objectives at each Workshop

  • Explore how SFI certification can help improve your business.
  • Discuss SFI standards as mechanisms for your customers to verify their supply chains and responsible procurement of wood and timber that is important to them.
  • Learn the value of the new ACP to get LEED credits for using certified-sourced forest products.
  • Look at current trends and data for markets that increasingly favor certified wood products.
  • Learn what is involved for a mill or manufacturer to get certified to the SFI Standards.
  • Examine the costs and benefits of getting certified.

To register for either or for more information, please contact sponsors AHMI at info@appalachianwood.org or the WPMA at Philip@wpma.org.

This program is made available through an award from the USDA, Forest Service.​

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