Model – Top Green Program

Harvesting, manufacturing and quality standards are rising in industry, as are consumer expectations. In light of this fact, and as manufacturers, we must inform customers of our position regarding the certification of logging companies supplying us with raw materials. Given this perspective, PG Hardwood Flooring, Model Hardwood and Beauceville Flooring (hereafter referred to as PG Group) introduced a forest certification program in 2004. The purpose of the program is to encourage and support sustainable forest management.

Here are some facts provided by the Canadian Lumberman's Association (CLA) on Canadian forestry harvesting:

To begin with, 50% of land in Canada consists of forests, 94% of which are public property with the remaining 6% privately owned. Among these forests, only one quarter are designated as commercial territories for wood harvesting. The logging industry annually harvests 0.4% of the commercial surface, while forest fires, insects and disease destroy another 0.5%. Moreover, the certified forestry surface in the country is expanding continuously.

In the matter of certification, PG Group has dealings with three organizations presently in operation: the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) with its Canadian standards in sustainable forest management, SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). These three organizations manage standards programs that do not compete with each other. Rather, they complement each other, with each organization providing for the particular needs of its respective clientele. Standards certifying that forests are indeed managed in a sustainable manner and the chain of custody of wood are then enforced.

To obtain a certificate based on a particular standard, timber harvested in certified forests is first identified by markings and painted logos as part of the chain of custody. The marking process continues during subsequent stages in processing to ensure the transfer of information and separation of lumber. Thus, the customer is sure to obtain goods with a sustainable vocation when purchasing a certified product.

Certification is relatively expensive, and in some instances, as in the case of the FSC, it can be more costly than the market value of the products, making it impossible for some private producers to adhere to a certification program. Since most deciduous lumber is harvested from private land, it is obvious that not all our raw materials come from certified forests.

As a major consumer of raw materials, PG Group cannot limit purchases to one supplier alone. Consequently, it is evident that we cannot accept wood from lots operating under the criterion of a single standard. This is why we consider all sources of wood certified under the terms of a sustainable forest management standard acceptable, rather than accepting only raw materials corresponding to one standard in particular.

To meet expectations, our supply officers have already taken steps and will continue to base their decisions on four main priorities:

Source of raw material
Respect for raw material
Chain of custody
Recycling and reforestation

These guidelines are applied on a daily basis in our companies and clearly demonstrate environmental concerns supported by PG Group.