Forest Stewardship Council, the world’s most trusted forest certification system, announced its 2019 FSC Leadership Awards in a celebration held in conjunction with Greenbuild 2019. Recognizing enduring commitment to forest conservation, the Awards highlight uncommon excellence that advances responsible forest management.
“From biodiversity and carbon storage to a sustainable supply of wood and fiber, people are waking up to the importance of responsibly managed forests to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges,” said Corey Brinkema, president of the Forest Stewardship Council U.S. “This year’s FSC Leadership Award winners demonstrate that we can conserve forests, fight climate change and protect wildlife habitat, even as we use forest products every day,” he added.
FSC Leadership Awards celebrate forest owners, builders, architects, retailers, paper mills, manufacturers, environmental organizations and many others who contribute to the movement toward responsible sourcing and forest management. Winners of the 2019 FSC Leadership Awards are as follows:
•Allbirds for bringing to market the first FSC-certified footwear collection, which reduces water use and cuts carbon impact in half compared to traditional footwear.
•Baskahegan Company for 15 years of continuous FSC-certified forest management and a commitment to long-term stewardship in Maine’s Baskahegan Valley.
•Chantiers Chibougamau for FSC-certified management on more than 5 million acres and for piloting the new FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard of Canada.
•House of Marley for using and effectively marketing FSC-certified wood and bamboo in its iconic collections of earbuds, headphones, and speakers.
•Neenah for being one of the first premium paper companies to offer FSC-certified papers, and for being the first mill worldwide to watermark FSC trademarks in its papers.
•Patti Southard – King County Green Tools posthumously recognized for being a force of nature and tireless advocate for FSC, sustainability and equity in King County.
•Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust for using FSC to balance economic development, fishing and hunting with responsible forest management in this iconic Maine landscape.
•Richlite for using FSC-certified virgin or recycled paper in its innovative and versatile premium surface materials for architecture, aerospace, action sports and more.
•The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands for managing an FSC-certified group of family woodlands and offering Master Logger Certification in the Northeast US since 2003.
•Bell Museum + Perkins and Will for using 100% FSC-certified wood in Minnesota’s new natural history museum, including locally sourced, thermally modified Eastern White Pine boards for the building enclosure.
•Calgary Zoo Panda Passage + Zeidler BKDI Architects for demonstrating tenacity and commitment in sourcing extensive FSC wood for this state-of-the-art panda habitat.
•The Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech + Skanska, Lord Aeck Sargent & The Miller Hull Partnership, and UFP International for innovative use of FSC and reclaimed wood in this mass timber project seeking Living Building status.
•Loom House + The Miller Hull Partnership for extensive use of FSC-certified wood in the first residential remodel project seeking Living Building certification.
FSC will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at the FSC Leadership Awards this year, including recognition for organizations that have been certified from its beginning: Collins, Keweenaw Land Association, Menominee Tribal Enterprises, Rumney Mill, Seven Islands Land Company, and Woodcraft Industries.
With new research showing FSC certified forests can store more carbon than those managed conventionally, there is growing interest in FSC as a climate solution. To support construction project teams, FSC launched “Build Greener with FSC,” an online resource for architects, builders and developers with a searchable database to find FSC-certified products.
https://us.fsc.org/en-us/newsroom/newsletter/id/1116