BMC SELECT is a participant in the distribution chain of lumber and building materials. We encourage and promote, as a matter of corporate responsibility, a sustainable supply of wood products grown, harvested, manufactured and replanted in environmentally sound ways in the forests of the world. To achieve this goal, BMC SELECT gives preference to wood products from producers who subscribe to and participate in sustainable forestry management practices that are certified by third parties. These certification programs include the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the International Standards Organization (ISO 14001), the Pan-European Forest Certification (PEFC) and other similar organizations.
We encourage sound environmental management practices of forests to ensure that building materials will be available to future generations for affordable housing. We encourage all producers and suppliers to embrace independent third-party verification of forest practices, but BMC SELECT does not promote or endorse one certification program over another. Third-party certification programs will enhance the sustainability of forests world-wide and will discourage illegal logging and non-sustainable practices. These certification programs should also enhance the protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality, while contributing to a socially responsible income for the individuals involved in the industry.
In addition to supplying solid wood in the construction of homes, we encourage and promote the utilization of engineered products as additional environmentally sound options in the construction of a home. These products include engineered “I”-joists, trusses, laminated beams, finger jointed studs, oriented strand board sheathing, fiber cement siding and other composite building components. We also promote moldings that are produced from medium density fiber and doors made from composite wood, steel, fiberglass or other engineered wood products. Where we install products, we promote value engineering and waste minimization to ensure the sound construction of a home with the appropriate amount of material. BMC SELECT supports and encourages all of its facilities to participate in recycling programs.
BMC SELECT also distributes a number of products that come from South America. The vast majority of these products are produced from Radiata Pine and Taeda Pine that are grown on plantations, then harvested and milled, often using finger-joint technology, which minimizes waste. The mills from which we directly receive material have thirdparty certification, which provides assurance that environmentally sound principles are being used for harvesting and replanting of the plantations. Some millwork products from South America are purchased from distributors and we have encouraged these distributors through written notification to obtain products from producers that have third-party certification. Because we are sensitive to concerns over conversion of native forests to non-native plantations in Chile, we prefer FSC-certified Chilean wood or wood that is certified to meet equivalent standards.
Products containing tropical hardwood species that we purchase from manufacturers are all from sources that have third-party certification. We purchase some tropical hardwood species from distributors, whom we encourage through written notification to obtain products from manufacturers who follow the same environmental policies as BMC SELECT.
BMC SELECT purchases some lumber from suppliers who log public lands in the United States and Canada. Although such producers may not have third-party certification programs, we have concluded that the federal, state or provincial governmental control over and public input into the process of site selection and logging methods can provide similar sustainability and environmental protections. BMC SELECT will use its purchasing power to influence its suppliers who log public lands in the United States and Canada.
We support sustainable forest management and harvesting plans outside these protected areas to provide economic opportunities with minimum impact on the environment.
BMC SELECT will continue its efforts to support the processes that ensure that the wood and wood-related products distributed or utilized by BMC SELECT in the construction of housing are sourced from sustainable forests with forest harvesting methods that are certified by independent third-party programs. |
