The 2008 Lacey Act Addendum for Hardwood Flooring

by Courtney Karlin
ReSource Floors Inc./ReSource Lights
ASID Industry Partner

In the past 6-8 months you may have noticed an increased trend in discontinued hardwood flooring products. A large reason for this trend is the 2008 addendum to The Lacey Act, which was first enacted in 1900 as a ban against illegal trafficking of fish, wildlife and some plants. The Lacey Act is actually the oldest wildlife protection statute in the United States. The addendum passed in May of 2008 adds additional illegally harvested plants, including timber, to the illegal trafficking list. The addition of timber to the Lacey Act made timber declaration laws much stricter thus inhibiting the hardwood flooring manufacturers from purchasing timber from individuals who steal wood from parks and protected areas, harvest without permission, fail to comply with harvesting regulation, or fail to pay royalties or taxes.

This legislation is incredibly significant for our environment and a number of other reasons. First, it protects our world's quickly depleting forests. It also protects buyers who abide by ethical business practices in importing wood from outside the United States. Additionally, it eliminates the influx of low-cost, low-quality wood flooring produced from illegally harvested wood. This is a huge step in protecting our forests from devastating deforestation and the inevitable extinction of some plant and tree species.

The Lacey Act isn’t the only way to ensure that your hardwood flooring is sustainable. Look for the FSC Certified label on your product and log on to their website, http://www.fsc.org/, to track the chain of custody. FSC ensures that the manufacturers are not only getting their timber legally, but also in a sustainable and managed way.

To learn more about the Lacey Act or to see the eco friendly hardwood options available come visit ReSource Floors at http://www.resourcefloors.com/ or call 858-536-8577. ReSource Floors is committed to our environment and a sustainable future; we can assist you in choosing the most sustainable products for your space.