Forum discussion
The particle board we buy is from FSC forest. Because it is manufactured from "Pre-consumer" wood chips, it could be called recyled. Since it is from the fall down of new trees, it is from "NEW" wood that has never been used before. Has USGBC taken a stand on this issue and is it "NEW" FSC wood to be used against MR7 or is recyled to be used for MR4 ?
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What building components are typically purchased with FSC content to earn this credit?
Does FSC-certified wood automatically contribute to IEQc4.4 as a low-emitting material?
Does FSC-certified bamboo products count towards this credit?
Should wood used on site features such as benches or a gazebo be included here?
Is there a minimum quantity of wood that must be used on the project to qualify for this credit?
Nadav Malin
CEOBuildingGreen, Inc.
LEEDuser Expert
844 thumbs up
April 5, 2010 - 9:31 pm
The definition of recycled in the wood products industry is blurry. The Composite Panel Association created its own standard early on that took a very liberal stance on what should count as "recycled", which, in their definition, includes pretty much all particleboard feedstock. SCS (a certifier of green claims) endorsed that definition and LEED has not, to my knowledge, challenged it. So, I believe that you CAN count it as recycled.However, you cannot count the same wood fiber as both FSC AND recycled, you have to go with one or the other (see this graphic showing where double-dipping between MR credit is and is not allowed).
Sonrisa Lucero
Owner / Energy Engineer / Sustainability ConsultantSustainnovations, LLC
138 thumbs up
October 25, 2010 - 8:57 pm
I keep running into this also. I have manufacturers with CARB certifications AND FSC Mixed COCs. The part that throws me is that the COC is not for FSC Recycled but Mixed. The LEED 2.2 verbiage says anything that "qualifies" for MR C4 is excluded from MR C7. In which case I would think that I have to count this as recycled. But, the 3.0 verbiage specifically states "FSC Recycled" is excluded which would lead me to believe I would be able to double dip or at least choose where I wanted to count it. It also sounds like there is a lot of synicism about the recycled qualification which would lead me to think that the FSC certification is the better certification to use. Any definitive answers or advice out there?
Thanks!