2005-09-09

Posted at 00:24 UT by Tamara

Broadcast Cable Series: Tamara Lynn Scott
Cable 27, Santa Cruz, California
Friday evenings, 5:30 p.m.

Nationwide on all Public Access Cable Stations
 
 

See information on the Broadcasts at
http://TamaraLynnScottBroadcasts.blogspot.com

EcoTimber is coming into the series with it's Eco Friendly, Sustainable Forest Products.

Is Your Wood Really Eco-Friendly?

Don't Be Fooled.

Wood suppliers often make claims that their material comes from "managed" or "sustainable" forests, but without independent certification, there is no way to really know. Increasingly, such claims are used as a marketing ploy to "greenwash" material that came from destructive forestry practices.

The only forest certification system that enjoys the support of environmental groups worldwide is that of the Forest Stewardship Council ( FSC), which is independent, non-profit, and has a mechanism for tracking wood from the forest floor to the consumer. The U.S. Green Building Council only recognizes FSC certification as evidence of the sustainability of a non-recycled wood product.

If you want verification that the wood you are purchasing came from a truly well-managed forest, demand FSC-certified material, and demand proper documentation.

The fact that a company has Forest Stewardship Council ( FSC) certification does not mean that what they sell is FSC-certified.

Many companies who have FSC "Chain of Custody" ( COC) certification, which gives them the right to buy and sell FSC-certified wood, don't sell much FSC-certified material, if any.

This is particularly common with suppliers of tropical hardwood flooring and decking from South America.

To verify the FSC-certified status of a wood product, demand not only the supplier's COC certificate, but also an invoice or receipt detailing the FSC-certified status of each product on an individual line-item basis.

If the invoice's line-item doesn't say " FSC-certified", the material is not FSC-certified, no matter what the rest of the information provided by the supplier might indicate.

Just because a wood product is "certified"does not mean that it comes from an ecologically well-managed forestry operation.

There are now various types of forest certification, and most do not have strict environmental standards, enforcement mechanisms, and methods of tracking the wood through the supply chain to prevent misrepresentation.

Examples of questionable certification systems include:

Sustainable forestry Initiative (SFI) – funded by the North American timber industry – low environmental standards, no Chain of Custody.

ISO certification – international – standards address business practices rather than ecological issues, no Chain of custody.

IBAMA certification – a program of the Brazilian Government – low environmental standards, poorly enforced, no chain of Custody.

Other national certifications from countries such as Canada, Malaysia, and Indonesia – all have weak environmental standards and enforcement.

None of these certifications enjoy widespread support from environmental groups.

In addition, Ecotimber provides a well made line of Bamboo flooring which uses only top-quality, mature stalks, processing the Bamboo with methods proven through years of research and experience.

High Quality European Adhesives with a low-VOC are used which falls below strict E1 standards for indoor air quality, no off-gases.

All strips are cut perfectly and laminated tightly to ensure minimum movement and delamination, sourcing their materials from just one mill with state of the art European machinery.

Dried to 6-8% moisture content makes the flooring more stable and suitable for a wide range of climates.

EcoTimber Bamboo Flooring utilizes 6 foot lengths exclusively, rather than shorter lengthsin their planks. They finish with a high tech aluminum oxide enhanced acrylated urethane system, with hardened acrylic anti-scratch topcoats, which outperforms most finishes in abrasion and scratch-resistance tests.

Learn more about EcoTimber Products at www.ecotimber.com

Broadcast Cable Series FROM the GROUND UP, creating energy self-reliant, environmentally friendly, homes, gardens, systems, and transportation