From Forest to Home: The Wood Supply Chain
FOREST
Concession holders at the point of harvest must maintain long-term forest management plans, as well as various authorizations like logging and transportation permits. Many concessions are small, indigenous, or family-owned businesses that depend on sustainable forest management to ensure long-term viability.
MILL
North American importers use tools such as supplier questionnaires, site visits, and periodic audits to name just a few to ensure overseas producers are complying with relevant laws and regulations. Depending on the country and concession, paperwork is created and travels digitally alongside the logs through the supply chain, tracking its origin and legality.
FACTORY
U.S. industries such as homebuilding and remodeling, furniture manufacturing, cabinetmaking, RV production, boatbuilding, musical instrument production, and others combine domestic and internationally sourced wood products to create beautiful and innovative products and environments that could never exist without imported wood.
AT HOME, WORK, AND PLAY
No matter where you live, work, or relax, wood is everywhere. IWPA members are proud to supply wood materials from around the world to help create beautiful and useful products from sustainably managed forests.
THE LACEY ACT is a U.S. law that since 2008 has prohibited the illegal trade in plant and plant products. It is not permitted to trade in products taken in violation of any U.S., state or foreign laws. For more information, go to iwpawood.org.
Frequently asked questions
What responsibilities do forest concession holders have at the point of harvest?+
Concession holders must maintain long-term forest management plans and hold various authorizations such as logging and transportation permits. Many concessions are small, indigenous, or family-owned businesses that rely on sustainable forest management for long-term viability.
How do North American importers verify that overseas wood producers comply with laws and regulations?+
Importers use tools such as supplier questionnaires, site visits, and periodic audits to ensure compliance. Paperwork tracking the wood's origin and legality travels digitally alongside the logs through the supply chain.
Which U.S. industries rely on imported wood products?+
Homebuilding and remodeling, furniture manufacturing, cabinetmaking, RV production, boatbuilding, and musical instrument production all use imported wood. These industries combine domestic and internationally sourced wood to create products and environments that could not exist without imports.
What is the Lacey Act and how does it affect wood trade?+
The Lacey Act is a U.S. law that since 2008 has prohibited the illegal trade in plant and plant products. It is not permitted to trade in products taken in violation of any U.S., state, or foreign laws.
How is wood tracked through the supply chain from forest to factory?+
Depending on the country and concession, documentation is generated and travels digitally alongside the logs, tracking the wood's origin and legality at each stage of the supply chain.
What role do IWPA members play in the global wood supply chain?+
IWPA members supply wood materials sourced from sustainably managed forests around the world. Their materials help create beautiful and useful products for homes, workplaces, and recreational environments.