For contractors, architects and engineers, there’s really no way to avoid the “green” conversation. It trickles down through government regulations, incentives for environmentally-friendly construction and support from trade organizations and media outlets.
But practical knowledge concerning the supply chain of internationally-produced sustainable material – a key ingredient in environmentally sensitive building – is harder to find.
That’s why Save The Bay’s green building was tapped to host a symposium on Dec. 4 concerning production of Forest Stewardship Council-certified building materials.
Organizers of the symposium, “The Global Supply Channel,” want to make New England companies aware of FSC-certified organizations in China. That country, which has been making strides toward sustainable forestry, is the main source of sustainable materials for two of the symposium sponsors.
Symposium organizers also want to provide local businesses with a means to import their products.
“What we’re trying to do here with this symposium is to create opportunities for architects and engineers and others to have an obtainable source of FSC products,” said Karl Wahlberg, marketing and sales executive with New London, Conn.-based General Woodcraft Inc., a symposium sponsor.
The nonprofit FSC operates an international accreditation program for sustainable forestry. Approved members must follow guidelines – 10 compliance principles – that range from adherence to local and regional laws to maintaining, restoring or enhancing the ecological functions of the forests. Participating companies and landowners must have future management plans and must monitor and assess their processes.
Another symposium sponsor, North Kingstown-based TP Global Inc., was founded four years ago to ease the process of acquiring FSC-certified materials for New England and U.S. builders.
Principal Tom Winter said his company – with 11 full-time employees, three of whom are based in Beijing – functions as an importer and intermediary, doing the legwork for those that want to get involved in FSC trade.
TP Global works with the China Forest & Trade Network, the Chinese chapter of the World Wildlife Foundation’s (WWF) forestry program. That organization provides FSC certification based on the council criteria. Since its 1999 inception, it has certified four major Chinese forests – totaling 1,065,891 acres – and 90 wood processing companies.
The symposium speakers – including executives from WWF, New Hampshire-based CBEX Global and nine Chinese suppliers – will delve into FSC certified products. They will also further discuss why an American business would want to deal with FSC materials, which might be more difficult to find than traditional building supplies.
Winter said some consumers seek out the FSC logo – a tree eclipsed by a checkmark – which can help build sales.
“If somebody has FSC certification, it clearly defines them as someone who has gone through a rigorous certification to get that distinction,” Winter said. “When you’re FSC certified in our industry, that’s about as good as it gets.”
With the recent ruckus concerning Chinese-made products – mostly lead-painted toys – a discussion about the merits of importing from China can be productive in Rhode Island, said Winter.
“One of the things that they might find interesting is that, in light of all the negative press, there are … good people and there are bad people” in China, he said. “And there are a lot of very concerned, responsible manufacturers in China.” •
To find FSC-certified products and suppliers, interested companies can also search a database through fscus.org. For more information on the symposium, which runs from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., call General Woodcraft Inc. at (866) 390-9663.
