Summerhill Foundation completes an FSC solid wood research paper

March 2009

In partnership with The Boxfish Group and funded by the Ivey Foundation, Summerhill Foundation created a detailed research report on Overcoming Barriers for FSC Solid Wood.

The purpose of this study was to identify some concrete, effective, and relatively low cost actions that could be undertaken by key FSC supporters in order to increase the market uptake of FSC certified solid wood products.

FSC paper in Canada has been a great success story. All seven major banks are using, or have committed to use, FSC paper. Major companies and institutions have put in place procurement policies stating a preference for FSC certified products including companies like Dell, Victoria Secret, and Nike. As of November 2008, over 400 printers were FSC-certified (377 individual certificates) and over 250 lines of FSC paper were available.

However, while FSC paper has seen significant market uptake, significantly less progress has been made with FSC solid wood. Companies selling FSC certified solid wood products and customers looking to purchase it have struggled to connect. The FSC credit in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is the least achievement of all the various LEED credits. No major home builders in Canada have made a commitment to go 100% FSC wood and Chain of Custody certified wood products are still a relative rarity in the market place.

The Overcoming Barriers for FSC Solid Wood study aimed to identify challenges to the penetration of FSC solid wood products in the Canadian market place. Our methodology in Phase 1 of the project was to interview a wide-range of stakeholders in order to inquire about barriers and possible solutions. Phase II of the study was to bring together a range of stakeholders to brainstorm potential solutions and strategies.

Summary of Critical Barriers & Obstacles

• Inherent complexities and challenges of forest products value chain
• Perceptions of FSC by key value chain players
• Little consumer awareness of FSC and low awareness of environmental and social attributes
• Limited supply and higher costs for FSC relative to alternatives
• Limited ability or effort to communicate FSC’s unique strengths
• Push by Sustainable Forestry Initiative as equivalent to FSC

Summary of Key Opportunities

• Rapid LEED program growth could drive demand
• Growing green market demand
• Growth in supply of FSC certified forests and products could remove key historical barriers
• Latent ENGO support and growing evidence of FSC as Gold Standard has yet to be tapped

Recommended Strategies

• Outreach and education to LEED APs in key FSC markets
• Harness dormant ENGO support in the market place
• Strengthen USGBC support for FSC

To learn more about the benefits of FSC certification, visit FSC Canada.

For more information regarding details of the report, please contact us.