Organized by

Purdue University Department of Forestry

Sponsored by

In cooperation with

American Hardwood Export Council

Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc.

Architectural Woodwork Institute

Association for Retail Environments

Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers

Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Assn.

Composite Panel Assn.

Hardwood Manufacturers Assn.

Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Assn.

Hardwood Review Weekly

Hardwood Tree Improvement & Research Center at Purdue University

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

Indiana Forest Industry Council

Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Assn.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn.

National Hardwood Lumber Assn.

Wood Component Manufacturers Assn.

Is Going Green Part of Your Company’s Future?

The 2007 Greenbuild Conference and Expo, organized by the U.S. Green Building Council in Chicago, registered 23,000 people, twice the number who registered one year earlier in Denver.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative reportedly has certified more than 140 million acres of forestland in the U.S. and Canada and last year claimed a 750% increase in locations with SFI chain-of-custody certifications that can track products from certified forests.
The Forest Stewardship Council reports 25.8 million acres of FSC-certified forests in the U.S. and more than 2,000 companies holding FSC chain-of-custody certification.
Combining state forest lands and classified forest lands, 30 to 40 million board feet of certified Indiana timber will soon be available to sawmills and veneer mills. Much more is available in the Great Lakes states and Pennsylvania.

Do You Have Adequate Information to Make a Good Business Decision?

Wood & Wood Products magazine quotes Roger Rutan, Vice President of Marketing for Timber Products Company, as saying, “One of the most difficult aspects of going green is understanding all the various programs – forestlands, green building product certifications, government regulations, and the like. Most people are confused and bewildered by all of the anachronisms and programs. It’s a huge issue.”

Is Going Green a Passing Fad?

Forty-seven percent of a select group of Wood & Wood Products readers responding to a recent survey said the green building movement will have a positive impact on the woodworking industry.

What Can You Do?

This conference will provide a unique public forum to help you learn about the impact green marketing of hardwood products is making at the international and national levels. More than 15 key industry groups and government agencies have thrown their support behind the program, making this one of – if not — the most significant North American congresses on certified wood issues held to date.

The program is divided into five sessions; two of the sessions feature concurrent workshops from which registrants can choose.

Among the highlights, representatives of two land certification, three chain-of-custody certification groups and three building certification programs will discuss their programs and answer your questions.

The availability of certified sustainable hardwood timber has been limited. One notable exception is the more than 2 million acres of forest lands in Pennsylvania that are certified under the Forest Stewardship Council. The Pennsylvania state forester will share his experience concerning the state’s program. In addition, state forest lands and private classified forest lands in Indiana are now FSC and SFI certified sustainable. The Indiana State Forester will discuss his recent experiences in obtaining certification and what he sees for the future.

The program includes an optional two-hour workshop on the potential ramifications of the new formaldehyde emissions rule adopted by the California Air Resources Board. This session offers an excellent opportunity for representatives of companies that manufacture products using particleboard, MDF and hardwood plywood to learn more about what is being billed as the toughest formaldehyde standard for the wood products industry in the world.

In addition, association executives will outline their newest environmental programs and representatives of secondary manufacturing companies will discuss the demand and future expectations in major domestic product areas, including: business and institutional furniture, architectural woodwork, cabinets, retail furnishings, wood components and flooring.

Finally, hear what your peers in both primary and secondary manufacturing think about the green movement and how they are positioning their companies to capitalize on it. In primary manufacturing, we have selected companies that represent lumberyards, wholesalers, and sawmills. In secondary manufacturing, we have selected executives of office furniture, cabinets, wood components and custom woodworking to discuss their companies’ efforts to implement and market “green” products.

Get the Most Up-to-Date Information

Over the last 20 years, foresters and principals in the wood industry have been asked to prove that wood products are harvested from sustainably managed forests. Since this is the primary premise of forestry and good wood utilization, these requests for documentation seemed unnecessary, burdensome, and even insulting to those who have tried to practice responsible stewardship of all forest resources. Emotional responses can easily cloud the reality of current and future expectations of how forestry will be practiced and wood products business conducted. Don’t let your emotions, bits and pieces of information or hearsay determine your company’s future. Come join us for complete, updated information.

For sponsorship and tabletop display information, contact
Dan Cassens, professor, Purdue University at 765.494.3644 or email at dcassens@purdue.edu.

Rich Christianson, associate publisher, Wood & Wood Products, at 847.415.8024 or email at rchristianson@vancepublishing.com.

Two general sessions —

for all attendees, plus concurrent workshops specific to the needs of lumber producers and secondary wood products manufacturers.

Networking reception —

a public forum for all attendees. Features table-top exhibits hosted by representatives of board products, woodworking machinery and other interested parties.

Location —

Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, Indianapolis, IN

For registration questions