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EXPO 2009 June 11-13, 2009 in New Orleans
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April 25, 2008 Simple Card Sets Record Straight
Sometimes it’s the little things that make
a big difference. Those of us in
the forest products industry often wonder how any building material can
possibly be perceived as better for the environment than wood.
Kim created the card for the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show held earlier this year. After reading about it in SFPA’s newsletter, two state forestry associations and at least one SPC member company are also using the card to spread the word about wood. The Texas Forestry Association distributed it at an event for NASA employees attending a Safety & Health Fair at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. TFA also plans to distribute the card at other events, including the State Fair of Texas, which draws about 1.2 million people. The Arkansas Forestry Association printed the card in its newsletter, and S.I. Storey Lumber Company Inc. plans to incorporate the card into a new “green” page on its Web site, said Vice President Hal Storey. S.I. Storey also hopes to print the card with its company information on the back for distribution to customers and at trade shows.
The card is appropriately titled “Southern Pine: the Original Green Building Product.” Click here to download a PDF copy. And if you are interested in printing copies for use by your company or organization, contact SFPA Vice President of Communications Richard Wallace at 504/443-4464, ext. 236, or by e-mail at rwallace@sfpa.org. |
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SFI Reports Strides in Forest Certification The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) reports considerable progress in the amount of certified forest land in North America. As of spring 2008, more than 152 million acres of forest land were independently certified to SFI forest management standards, up from 135 million at the end of 2007. SFI also reports more than 170 chain-of-custody certifications at 511 locations, a 700% increase in just one year.
“Every day at SFI, we see the supply chain working together to promote sustainable forest management and consumers are doing their part too by asking for SFI-certified products,” said SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow in a recent news release.
Certification systems like SFI are growing in importance as designers, builders and consumers become more aware of green building practices. SFI says its forest management standard is based on principles and measures that promote responsible environmental behavior and sound forest management including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk and forests of exceptional conservation value. |
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EXPO 2009 Offers Sponsorship, Advertising Opportunities EXPO 2009 – heading to New Orleans for the first time since 1991 – offers exhibitors a variety of ways to let forest products industry leaders know about their company or firm and what it offers. Exhibitors will soon receive a brochure outlining available sponsorship and advertising opportunities through the mail. “Even the smallest investment in advertising or promotions can lead to greater success at EXPO 2009,” said EXPO Director Eric Gee. The brochure is called “Cutting Straight to Success.” If you don’t receive a copy and want one, contact Eric at 504/443-4464, ext. 214, or by e-mail at egee@sfpa.org. |
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Export Activity Strengthens in Down Market With the domestic market still in limbo, international markets continue to provide at least a partial outlet for Southern Pine lumber. Random Lengths International recently reported a growing number of U.S. softwood lumber and panel producers are finding “niche” markets outside of the United States. A number of SFPA member companies have strengthened their export expertise, including McShan Lumber Company Inc., which recently received Alabama’s 2008 Governor’s Trade Excellence Award. “I believe the strongest markets for our products are Mexico and the Caribbean because of their proximity and their almost constant demand for wood,” said Ned DeJarnette, SPFA’s director of international markets. Ned points out a couple of additional factors help make those two markets more attractive. “The Caribbean and Mexico are both popular American tourism destinations, which leads to demand for construction that’s familiar to U.S. citizens,” he said. He also notes a current trend has American baby boomers pouring into Mexico to take advantage of the country’s lower cost of living by building second homes or even retirement homes. “I think that’s helping wood,” he said. “Plus, we’ve been able to move those two markets to think more about using Southern Pine than they did in the past.”
Southern Pine Council members who want more information about international markets and how to get involved, can contact Ned at 504/443-4464, ext. 233, or by e-mail at edejarnette@sfpa.org. |
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Welcoming a New Member
SFPA welcomes
Pierce Construction & Maintenance Company Inc.
of Petal,
Miss., as a new Associate member. Pierce has 30 years experience in the
construction business, much of it in sawmill
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Copyright © 2008. Reproduction in whole or in part, by electronic or mechanical means, without written authorization from SFPA is prohibited. |
Our
products come from a natural, well-managed, renewable resource. And when you
weigh the life cycle of wood products, from the growth stage to the
manufacturing process to eventual disposal or recycling, studies confirm that
wood is superior to steel and concrete in practically every category.
Nevertheless, builders, designers and consumers see and hear claims from the
steel and concrete industries that their products are the
environmentally-friendly choices. To help combat those claims, Southern Pine
Council public relations consultant Kim Drew developed a small card that
carries a big impact by injecting a few facts into the conversation. 
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