Our Scorecard Methodology
We scored 94 North American furniture retailers. 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 make sure we didn’t miss anything, as well as 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 and implementing 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 |
POINTS POSSIBLE: SUB-TOTAL | 9 |
Responsible Sourcing Practices & Performance | Points |
---|---|
Company demonstrates progress under the Scorecard framework | 1 |
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 | 2 |
Company reports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is certified to any certification system and/or acceptable plantation wood | 2 |
Company reports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC-certified or recycled/reclaimed, OR | 2 |
Company reports more than 50% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC-certified or recycled/reclaimed, OR | 4 |
Company reports more than 75% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC-certified or recycled/reclaimed | 6 |
POINTS POSSIBLE: SUB-TOTAL | 14 |
Additional Actions | Points |
---|---|
Anything at all on website about sustainability? | 1 |
Sustainable Furnishings Council member? | 1 |
Website has a statement on sourcing legal and/or responsible wood | 1 |
Visibly offers recycled/reclaimed wood furniture for sale on website | 1 |
Visibly offers wood furniture certified under any forest certification system for sale on website | 2 |
Visibly offers FSC-certified wood furniture is for sale on website | 2 |
POINTS POSSIBLE: SUB-TOTAL | 8 |
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE
31
Companies scored using the above methodology are recognized as follows:
Top Scorer | 18+ points |
High Scorer | 13-17 points |
Honorable Mention | 8-12 points |