FSC Controlled label

What is your role in the manufacturing process? Are you the end user? Or are you purchasing this veneer and creating and assembly with other FSC wood products?

This short answer is that FSC controlled materials hold a 0 value in FSC's calculations and a $0 in LEED calculations. With that being said however the Veneer provider is correct. If this veneer supplier will be selling this veneer to a shop that will apply this veneer to a FSC certified piece of core material (PB or MDF) than that shop performing that service will make the calculation and claim on that veneered panel not the veneer supplier. The shop can use FSC core, FSC balance sheet (on the back side of the panel), and this FSC Controlled veneer on the face - and come away with a panel that is FSC Mixed 90% (aprox - the FSC Controlled veneer would make up about 10% of the assembly by weight or volume) This use of FSC controlled material is not to be confused with using a non-FSC material in an assembly which is strictly forbidden. So it all depends on whom this veneer supplier is selling this product to, and where your claim for this project will be coming from

I should have also noted that this is a strong example on why the MIllwork / Cabinet shop would have to be FSC- COC certified. If they are not, than they cannot make this vital calculation / claim on the end product. Thus leaving you with a non FSC Porduct.

I am confused on the 'new wood' restriction on the certified wood credit in the 2010 Addendum. Here's why: when a company sells a product that is FSC Mixed Credit (not a percentage, but 100%), that means that the entire volume of the product is certified as FSC Mixed Credit. That volume is removed from the FSC Credit Account. The FSC credits that go into the Credit Account are FSC fiber which is comprised of all or a combination of: FSC Mixed Credit CoC products (may include pre-consumer recycle - which is not considered 'new wood per the definition in the addendum!), FSC Pure products, and post-consumer reclaim (sources verified/auditied by the FSC certified company and their certification body). The entire amount of an FSC Mixed Credit (100%) order removes the equivalent amount of credits from the FSC credit account. Why is LEED excluding the 'recycled' portion of this responsibly sourced material? It seems that an FSC Mixed Credit product is perceived as being comprised of a 'bit of this and a bit of that that' materials which are not recognized as 'FSC certified' components. It should be clearly understood that per FSC STD 40-004, when FSC Mixed Credit is purchased, you are purchasing FSC chain of custody material that is being removed from an account that was creditied based on FSC requirements. Ongoing production at an FSC certified site includes inputs of 'FSC fiber (see preceeding description) and Controlled Wood (either purchased as such or determined meet FSC Controlled Wood requirements by a company controlled wood program). This should not confuse the fact that FSC Mixed Credit (100%) is considered 100% certified volume by FSC. What confuses me is why the recycled content of an FSC Mixed Credit product cannot be counted toward the credit (please correct me if I have misunderstood this restriction). The entire FSC certified lot should be considered FSC chain of custody...is it now the intent of USGBC to reject the very concept of 'responsible wood sourcing' that the USGBC has embraced? The USGBC should be applauded for the intent of the MR7 credit for encouraging the use of wood from responsible sources and what better sources than from products which use the fundamentals of FSC, which the USGBC continues to recognize as the leading forest management program in the industry? On the 'new wood' issue: there are not enough FSC certified forests to supply the building industry with only FSC Pure, or FSC Mixed Credit made only from new wood! Responsible use of ALL materials must be recognized, We need to embrace the environmental, social and economical realities of our natural resources...and ensure these materials are being used in the most responsible manner which continues to sustain them for generations to come.