Our Scorecard Methodology
We scored 86 companies in the North American furniture industry. Our methodology focused on information available in the public domain on corporate websites regarding wood sourcing policies, goals and practices. However, knowing that companies may not disclose all that they are doing to exercise corporate social responsibility, we also reached out individually to each company we scored to convey the importance of forest health, the influence of their purchasing decisions, and the positive market signal they send by making their policies public.
We offered recommendations, information and resources for creating a robust wood sourcing policy, including the elements necessary to ensure that the company is effectively addressing, rather than adding to, the problem of deforestation and forest degradation.
Responsible Wood Sourcing Policy |
Points |
---|---|
Responsible wood sourcing policy is on website | 3 |
Policy contains commitment to avoid sourcing illegal and/or controversial wood | 2 |
Policy includes commitment to source certified wood – any certification system | 2 |
Policy includes preference for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and/or recycled/reclaimed wood | 2 |
Responsible Sourcing Practices & Performance |
|
Company publishes quantitative responsible sourcing goals/targets | 1 |
Company publicly reports on progress made towards responsible sourcing goals/targets | 2 |
3rd party verification of public reporting | 1 |
Company reports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is certified to any certification system | 2 |
Company reports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC-certified or recycled/reclaimed
Company reports more than 50% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC-certified or recycled/reclaimed Company reports more than 70% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC-certified or recycled/reclaimed |
2
3 4 |
Additional Actions |
|
Anything at all on website about sustainability? | 1 |
Website has a statement on sourcing legal and/or responsible wood | 1 |
Visibly offers on website that recycled/reclaimed wood products are for sale | 1 |
Visibly offers on website that wood furniture certified under any forest certification system is for sale | 2 |
Visibly offers on website that FSC-certified wood furniture is for sale | 2 |
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE |
26 |
This initiative promotes good forestry practices by examining whether major residential furnishings companies have clear policies for the responsible sourcing of their wood furniture. Our objectives are to build awareness of best practices, to support progress, and to recognize leadership. We are pleased to see a growing recognition of the importance of implementing robust wood sourcing policies, and are confident that such policies will contribute to business development and overall corporate health.