Winning with Wood
Environmental Stewardship
The IWPA Awards Program, now in its third year, recognizes the innovation, environmental stewardship and the corporate social responsibility initiatives of those in the wood industry. The awards bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of best practices and breakthrough innovations in the industry. Acknowledging these best-of-the-best practices and advances occurring in the international wood industry encourages designers, architects and U.S. manufacturers to continue to expand and enrich their palette of wood opportunities.
The IWPA recognized Interwood Forest Products with the Aesthetic Design Excellence Award for incorporating multiple exotic species into the world's tallest building. Innovative Design Winner, Columbia Forest Products, was recognized for their PureBond® Formaldehyde-Free Technology in hardwood plywood. The UCS Forest Group received the Environmental Excellence Award for promotion and wide-scale distribution of Urufor's sustainably managed Red Grandis (hardwood species).
The forest products industry has long understood the importance of sustainable forest and land management practices. Global deforestation occurs when land is given over to agriculture or ranching, and a primary driver of this trend is poverty. Consequently, a unifying challenge for the wood industry has been to increase the value of forested land so that forest-dependent communities are incentivized to keep forest lands intact.
This year's environmental excellence award winner, UCS Forest Group, demonstrates the progress that is being made on this front. UCS Forest Group provides marketing and distribution of Red Grandis (Eucalyptus grandis) hardwood for Urufor, a Uruguayan forestry company. UCS Forest Group of Companies operates as Sierra Forest Products across the U.S. and as Upper Canada Forest Products in Canada. UCS's Red Grandis initiative is an environmental stewardship success story that also makes good business sense. In the span of 25 years, with careful soil preparation, fertilization and weed control, Urufor has successfully turned fallow acreage into thriving forest land and a successful business venture. Today, Urufor has 74,000 forested acres, with more than half of it planted in Red Grandis. Each year the company replants its Red Grandis harvest and it also continues to add acreage to meet increasing demand.
"The UCS Forest Group of Companies is committed to sourcing environmentally responsible products, such as Urufor's Red Grandis," says Gordon Clough, director of marketing for UCS Forest Group. "The IWPA award is important recognition for what we have been doing over the last two decades."
Frequently asked questions
What is the IWPA Awards Program?+
Now in its third year, the IWPA Awards Program recognizes innovation, environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility initiatives in the wood industry. It highlights best practices and breakthrough innovations to encourage designers, architects and U.S. manufacturers to expand their use of wood.
Who won the IWPA Aesthetic Design Excellence Award?+
Interwood Forest Products won the Aesthetic Design Excellence Award for incorporating multiple exotic species into the world's tallest building.
Why did Columbia Forest Products win the IWPA Innovative Design Award?+
Columbia Forest Products was recognized for their PureBond® Formaldehyde-Free Technology in hardwood plywood.
Who supplies Red Grandis hardwood and where is it grown?+
Red Grandis (Eucalyptus grandis) hardwood is grown by Urufor, a Uruguayan forestry company, and marketed and distributed by UCS Forest Group. Urufor currently manages 74,000 forested acres, with more than half planted in Red Grandis.
How has Urufor turned fallow land into sustainable forest?+
Over 25 years, Urufor used careful soil preparation, fertilization and weed control to convert fallow acreage into thriving forest land. The company replants its Red Grandis harvest each year and continues adding acreage to meet demand.
How does the wood industry combat global deforestation?+
Because deforestation is often driven by poverty and the conversion of land to agriculture or ranching, the industry works to increase the value of forested land. This incentivizes forest-dependent communities to keep forest lands intact.