Forum discussion
We have a particleboard door blank that has 90% recycled content.
It is also FSC Mix 85%.
Let's say we document this product under MRc4 Recycled Content, considering that double dipping is not allowed we can't also count the product towards MRc7 Certified Wood.
Do we still need to add the new wood percent to MRc7 Certified Wood denominator and consider it non-FSC?
Thanks,
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Charalampos Giannikopoulos
Senior Sustainability ConsultantDCarbon
84 thumbs up
January 18, 2017 - 2:15 pm
From my understanding the remaining 10% which is presumably new wood needs to be reported under MRc7 as non-certified wood.
Lori Knosalla
Policy and Standards Manager - Chain of CustodyForest Stewardship Council US
LEEDuser Expert
17 thumbs up
January 19, 2017 - 1:15 pm
There is a LEED Interpretation (10372) on this topic at the following link: http://www.usgbc.org/node/1731359?view=interpretations&return=/credits/n...
And the ruling is included here: "Products identified as FSC Mix Credit or FSC Mix [NN] % also have pre- or post-consumer recycled content, the latter of which is commonly reported separately by the product manufacturer. In these instances the project team must choose whether to classify the product (or some fraction of the assembly) as FSC certified or as recycled content; the material cannot contribute to both claims simultaneously.
Martin Meehan
PrincipalMeehan Associates
24 thumbs up
January 25, 2017 - 9:36 am
Thank you Charalampos and Lori for your responses.
Lori, would you then agree with Charalampos statement?
In other words, if I have a wood product with recycled content, does the new wood portion of the product need to be added to MRc7 new wood total cost?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
January 25, 2017 - 4:44 pm
Martin, I'd agree with that.
Lori Knosalla
Policy and Standards Manager - Chain of CustodyForest Stewardship Council US
LEEDuser Expert
17 thumbs up
January 25, 2017 - 9:53 pm
Yes, I believe this is correct as well. If you decide to count this material to MRc4 to gain the recycled content contribution, then the remaining 10% would go to the denominator to be calculated with MRc7.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
January 26, 2017 - 10:30 am
Important caveat: the remaining 10% is probably resins/binder, not new wood. So it would not count as new wood.
To the extent that new wood is included it should be counted as such, but don't assume that the 10% is new wood unless the manufacturer says it is.