ONE GOOD WORLD ECOngress: Legal Wood Sourcing & Building Green Markets

Hello Greenies:

The Green Ox here, reporting from the cyberPastures. Today we ventured to the first cross-disciplinary ECOngress held in Las Vegas, NV. The ECOngress centers around the legal and sustainable wood sourcing in the home furnishings industry. The ECOngress evidences every part of the supply chain as to the significance of known legal origin and responsible forestry for wood products. Wood sourcers are informed about the solution and issues of necessary importance given the impending next phase of the Lacy Act declaration requirements that will be effective April 2010. The Lacey Act is a U.S. law amended in 2008 that bans commerce in illegally sourced plants and their products, including wood and paper products. In April, furniture items will be included in Lacey declarations requirements reinforcing grounds for legal prosecution of entities importing, transporting, selling or purchasing products using illegally harvested or traded wood from the U.S. or abroad.

In an interview with the Green Ox, a panelist stated: "As the third biggest user of wood products, the furniture industry has a responsibility to take a leadership role in legal wood sourcing, and the ECOngress represents a groundbreaking step by bringing together every vital constituency for the very first time to show support, discuss challenges and share ideas,” said Jeff Hiller, president of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, “Leadership is taking action while others wonder 'what if.' The goal of the ECOngress is to identify pragmatic solutions that are good for business and the planet.”

“We have actually passed a point of no return in terms of environmental awareness, and although the future of the supply chain looks complicated to all of us, the ECOngress will help us move forward with a plan for sustainable growth, as opposed to leaving it to chance

“Knowledge is power but ignorance is no longer bliss"

“We encourage all industry players, at every level, to put aside their individual fears and embrace the future in an informed and collective way. The ECOngress gives us a potent platform to do just that and demonstrates that this is an emerging issue not just for our industry but for humanity.”

To see full article, visit: ECOngress