Lacey Act: Keeping hardwood green
Consumer awareness is undoubtedly piquing these days. It started with fair trade coffee in liberal social circles and has spread to every corner of consumerism, hard- wood included. Sourcing responsibly grown and harvested lumber is now a legal matter and failure to comply can result in the seizure of goods and fines up to $200,000. Though the flooring industry has followed suit so far, other hardwood product manufacturers like Gibson guitars, have experienced the consequences of neglect (FCNews, Dec. 7/14).
Though the Lacey Act is over 100 years old, the most recent revisions—of which there have been several—were enacted May 22, 2008. From that point forward fines and penalties are applicable for knowingly or unknowingly trading illegally sourced wood or falsifying import declarations. In addition to forfeiture of goods and fines, insubordinates can face up to five years in prison.
“Even though no immediate effects have been felt [at Mirage], these requirements have created a more level playing field,” Robitaille said. “They will encourage legal wood harvesting practices around the world.”
That is the hope. Even better than leveling the field, the Lacey Act had a positive impact for Mannington hardwood. “There’s been a decline of exotics coming in,” Holm said, “which has led to a proliferation of our product lines.” Like many hardwood flooring manufacturers, the mill was in compliance before the law was revised. “Larger players benefited from this because those manufacturers can afford to comply and verify point of supply, whereas smaller players tend to source cheaply,” Holm explained.
In addition, Shaw, Mohawk, Lauzon, Mullican, Anderson and Mirage all claim to have followed the guidelines of the Lacey Act long before 2008.
“This is reinforcing that it is just too big a risk to purchase imported wood and further reinforces the value of “made in the USA” products,” Shaw’s Thompson said.
California Air Resources Board (CARB) phase II also entered into effect at the beginning of the year, but again, the industry seems less than phased by this. Holm reported that Mannington, as well as most other manufacturers, have been ready for the second phase regulation. Mohawk claimed to follow the new guidelines a year before the law’s target date of Jan. 1, 2010, and Armstrong said it was following CARB II as early as 2008.
-Emily Hooper