Upper Midwest Wood Product Firms Receive FSC-COC Certification

Six Firms Ready to Supply LEED & Green Building Projects with Certified Products

Contact: Gary Winget, 651-223-5629, Gary@TrueNorthCertified.com

On January 26, the True North Certified Forest Products Network announced that the Network has added six new member firms to its FSC Chain-of-Custody group certification program. These firms manufacturer an array of products from wood originating in well-managed FSC certified forests or from reclaimed/recycled sources.

"As increasing numbers of architects, builders, remodelers and homeowners are looking to build sustainably and applying for LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) certification," states Tony Elvig of Old Globe Reclaimed Wood Company. "The True North Network's group certification program offered us the opportunity to achieve FSC certification in timely and cost-effective manner."

The FSC certification allows the six companies to sell FSC-certified and labeled products ranging from lumber and timbers, to flooring and paneling, to cabinetry and closet systems, to shingles and SIPs.

"Our business is focusing on local, sustainably harvested white cedar products," according to Hobart Fin of White Cedar Shingles & Lumber. "The FSC certification assures customers that they come from well-managed forests."

Persons interested in more information about finding FSC certified suppliers or companies inquiring about becoming FSC-COC certified may contact the Network at 1-651-223-5629, email Info@TrueNorthCertified.com, or visit the Network's website at www.TrueNorthCertified.com.

The True North Certified Forest Products Network offers small-to-medium size primary and secondary manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of forest-based products access to membership in a group FSC Chain-of-Custody certification program. The True North Network is a program of the Minnesota Wood Education Project, a non-profit organization committed to increasing awareness of the value of sustainable management of our forests and improving the economies of our communities.

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organization that supports and promotes forest management standards that are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable.

The firms that are new members of the True North Network are: Old Globe Reclaimed Wood Company (www.oldglobewood.com), Southern Minnesota Woodcraft (www.smwood.com), White Cedar Shingles & Lumber (www.whitecedarshingles.com), Real Closet (www.realcloset.com), Extreme Panel Technologies (www.extremepanel.com), and Pine Valley Cabinet Company (www.truenorthwoods.com/fscsuppliers.ashx).