Nadine Block, Senior Director of Government Outreach, discusses SFI’s role in GOVgreen, a conference held in Washington, DC November 9-10.

Earlier this week I was at the first annual GOVgreen conference and had the privilege of speaking with professionals working in various parts of the government, many who have jobs relating to implementing President Obama’s Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental Energy and Economic Performance. These professionals are looking for solutions that not only comply with the order and help them achieve their sustainability goals, but are a good fit for their department’s specific purchasing, building, and policy needs.

Efficient procurement decisions are as simple as purchasing SFI-labeled cups like the ones used by conference participants, including by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. during his keynote address at GOVgreen. This provides an excellent example of consumer products that are sourced responsibly and demonstrates how simple purchasing decisions can make a difference. Our presence at the conference included sponsoring water stations, where SFI-labeled ecotainers were used, and staffing an exhibit where we interacted with dozens of conference participants. Additionally, I participated in a panel discussion about “Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Programs,” along with Christine Chase, Certification Manager at Green Seal and Graziella Siciliano, Senior Program Associate at the Alliance to Save Energy. These forums gave me an opportunity to show how forest certification works with recycling for well-rounded procurement policies. I was also able to demonstrate how SFI certification supports North American jobs and communities and how using forest products from responsibly managed forests helps keeps forests as forests. When organizations demand responsible wood and paper products, they are giving our domestic forest landowners markets for their products and incentives to continue to responsibly manage their forests. Forest certification like SFI is a necessary proof point of responsible behavior.

Thanks to all who were able to stop by the SFI booth or my presentations during the show, and we look forward to working with government organizations in finding preferred options and practices around using forest certified products.

Allison Welde is SFI Director, Conservation Partnerships and Communications, and identifies areas of potential collaboration with conservation groups and other SFI stakeholders.

The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) recently finished the second of six workshops, thanks to a grant from SFI’s Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program. Over the next three years, RGS plans to hold six Wisconsin Coverts workshops– A Woodland Wildlife Management Program for Private Landowners in the Great Lakes Region. The Wisconsin Coverts Project enlists and educates workshop attendees about management best practices for their land and the wildlife on it, so they can lead by example and help others better understand their role as land stewards. Since 1994, The Wisconsin Coverts Project has held 17 previous Coverts Workshops for 427 Coverts Cooperators (representing 375 properties).  These Cooperators are responsible for managing 330,735 acres in Wisconsin and in outreach to other landowners, have impacted management on a over 700,000 acres.

One of the recent Wisconsin Coverts Workshops was conducted at the Kemp Natural Resources Station near Woodruff, Wisconsin with 23 attendees.  As part of the grant from SFI, applicants who are chosen for the workshop attend it free of charge, which facilitates the participation of family forest landowners.  The large number of applicants (70) for participating in a Coverts Workshop indicates the growing interest and demand for this type of training.  Project staff did an outstanding job targeting forest landowners that have high potential to influence management on large tracts or work with other landowners in their areas.  Anecdotal comments from workshop attendees indicate they found the workshops very beneficial.

SFI’s Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program fosters partnerships between organizations interested in improving forest management in the United States and Canada, and responsible procurement globally.  SFI is committed to providing leadership and sharing best practices to improve forest management on both certified and uncertified lands. In May 2010, the program announced a commitment of $675,000 to support nine conservation initiatives.  Through the involvement of partners, these projects will leverage additional resources and achieve a total value of almost $2.7 million.

August 12-15, 2010 WI Coverts Project attendees:  Standing (left to right):  Dick Merten, Daniel Einstein, Brad Matson, Scott Craven (workshop coordinator), Doug Hagie, Mark Erickson, Chad Reynen, Tom Owens, Bill O’Donnell, Jim Stuempges, Jo Bailey, David Drake (workshop coordinator), Craig Stomberg, Steve Schwartz, and Doug Appelgren.  Sitting (left to right):  Roxanne Erickson, James Marquardt, Robert Asproth, Charles Erickson, David Johnson, Jason Spaeth, Barb Thompson, Kathy Lewis, and Gretchen Larson.  Not pictured:  Jim Lohff and Jamie Nack (workshop coordinator).

Nadine Block, who manages Government Outreach for SFI, gives an overview of the White House Forum on Federal Leadership and Sustainable Building she recently attended.

I recently had the honor of participating in a White House Forum on Federal Leadership and Sustainable Building.

A number of Administration leaders spoke, including Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and the Government Services Administration Administrator Martha Johnson. Following the speeches, there were multiple panel discussions centered on sustainable building issues. Topics discussed included the role of public-private partnerships, as well as the role of government in incentivizing green building.

It was great to see so many high level officials from both the private and public sector come together to collaborate on the future of green building. I really enjoyed being able to take part in this event and am excited to work with the Administration and other stakeholders on this issue as it progresses. If you would like to know more about the forum check out the videos below.

Last week SFI was highlighted on a CTV broadcast as a label consumers can trust.  In a market full of products toting themselves as “green” or “eco-friendly,” it’s difficult to know where to turn, but the Consumers’ Association of Canada is trying to help remedy the issue. The feature advises consumers to do research and frequent retailers you can trust to help you distinguish between environmentally sound products and those which are “greenwashing.”  CTV reporters point to research from Terrachoice Environmental Marketing – We’ve blogged about their research in the past. You can read about how SFI is among 14 labels the group recognizes as “legitimate.”

At SFI, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive, science-based requirements that integrate the continuous growing of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality.  Additionally, our program is overseen by an independent Board of Directors, providing even more credibility. The SFI label tells customers they are buying products from responsibly managed forests.

A number of forestry experts (including the National Association of State Foresters), conservation groups (including The Conservation Fund) and government officials from Canada and the United States support the SFI standard as a credible forestry certification standard in North America. (You can read more about this on our website.)

We are proud of what our label stands for, proud of our growing SFI community, and continue to work hard on promoting responsible forest management in North America and around the world.  We applaud the Consumers’ Association’s to raise awareness on the issue of greenwashing and support clear guidelines for consumers to determine which products actually are environmentally friendly!

Earlier this week the White House unveiled its official design and logo for this year’s Easter Egg Roll souvenirs. For the second consecutive year, the egg packaging has been made from SFI-certified paperboard. The egg itself has been manufactured from FSC-certified wood.

As the largest certifier of U.S. forests, we at SFI are pleased the White House is recognizing the importance of promoting sustainability with the Easter Egg Roll and supporting the responsibly managed forests of North America. I also think it speaks volumes that the White House is recognizing two valid certification programs—the SFI and FSC. The White House is not the first organization to acknowledge the value of both standards. It joins a long list of companies and associations around the world who do so as well.

We are happy to play a small part in this wonderful American tradition, and look forward to the day when all wood and paper products at the White House come from certified forests.