by Charles H. Smith
Whether or not you care
about the long-run future of
the world's forests, ecology
issues probably haven't had
any impact on your business
up until now. But that is likely
to change. Increasingly,
customers are asking questions
about the environmental
impact of using wood
products in building projects.
To answer such concerns,
builders can now locate "certified
lumber" and other ecologically
sound wood products
in the commercial marketplace.
Small suppliers such as
San Francisco's EcoTimber
International are offering
lesser-known woods like
Narra, a subtropical hardwood,
as substitutes for
mahogany in finish work and
furniture. Eco-friendly wood
is going mainstream: Home
Depot, the giant Atlantabased
home center chain, is
stocking "environmental"
pine in a specially marked
section of its stores.
Independent certification.
In the past, it has been hard
0/JLC