Do you see the Forest for the Trees?

An ever-increasingly popular topic: earth-friendly, eco-friendly, "green", sustainable, environmentally-conscious product, service, or decision. So here is some more evidence that wood flooring is all of that.

Years ago, environmentally-conscious homeowners and remodelers had few options when it came to being earth-friendly but still getting the look, feel, and durability of their chosen flooring material. However, the once-hard-to-find sustainable flooring now comes in all the popular species: white oak, red oak, maple, birch, cherry, hickory, even some exotic species. And you'll be pleasantly surprised at the cost. Four-inch wide, medium-grade American cherry that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)— an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests — has the same square foot cost as standard American cherry.

To get FSC Certification, forest operations must follow 10 principles and meet 56 criteria, including social, economic, ecological, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations based on managerial aspects as well as environmental and social requirements. In fact, FSC rules are the strictest and FSC’s social and environmental requirements the highest. Protection of local wildlife, minimal use of chemical pesticides, even the guarantee that loggers can unionize are examples of the all-inclusive requirements set forth. Look for FSC logo and a "chain of custody" number, which allows them to be traced back to their source, to know if the wood flooring you are interested in has been FSC-Certified.

By 2005, there were 556 U.S. companies turning out FSC-certified lumber, up from 20 when the program was founded. While the flooring they produce still makes up a small share of the U.S. market, it's growing fast. More important, they're having a profound effect on the nation's forests. By 2005, FSC-certified forests covered 15.5 million acres, up from 1.4 million in 1995 in the US and 135 million acres of FSC-approved forests covering the international globe.

It may be difficult to find "green" flooring from a single retailer, since only about 10 percent of the typical retailer's stock is likely to be classified that way so you may have to do some hunting to start. For a list of certified companies in your area, visit The Forest Stewardship Council website.

The availability of products is increasing along with consumer awareness," says Tom Dietsche, program manager for the U.S. Green Building Council, which has made FSC certification a benchmark in the new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines for homebuilders. "We've made a lot of progress."

In combination with the FSC guidelines, these Green Floors Principles will help you to understand how and why wood flooring is earth-friendly.

Ten attributes that make a flooring GREEN
	Rating Table	Applies To	Explanation
1.	Social Responsibility	Manufacturer	Socially responsible and enlightened company to workers and customers and embraces environmental practices.
2.	Manufacturer Processes	Manufacturer	Methods are environmentally responsible and are not detrimental to the environment.
3.	Distribution Methods	Distribution	Uses environmentally friendly and innovative methods of distribution, i.e., packaging and transportation. LEED credits given for purchasing local materials.
4.	Renewable	Product	Made with renewable materials. Definition - raw materials can be replaced within _____ years.
5.	Recycled Content	Product	Made with recycled materials. Percentage of post-industrial vs. post-consumer materials.
6.	Recyclability	Product	Content of product is mostly recyclable and can be disposed of safely or reused in manufacture of same product or downsized for another product
7.	Toxicity	Product	Does not contain toxic materials. Meets accepted air quality standards.
8.	Life Cycle	Product	Designed for extended life cycle to reduce costs per year and impact on the environment.
9.	Installation	Product	Can be installed in an environmentally friendly manner, i.e. using low VOC adhesives.
10.	Maintenance	Product	Can be maintained in an environmentally friendly manner, i.e., low toxic cleaning chemicals and low water consumption.

Environmental concerns are starting to have a very real effect on the wood products marketplace, and it's about time homeowners are able to participate. Visit GateWood Floors for the environmentally-friendly wood flooring of your dreams!