Page 36 - Green Builder May-June 2018 Issue

THE EVOLVING ROLE OF ASSOCIATIONS

NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association)

This group helps showcase wood flooring’s green nature—from virtual university
classrooms to the world’s rainforests.

OUNDED IN 1985, the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) is a not-for-profit trade
association representing all segments of the hardwood flooring industry, including manufacturers,
distributors, retailers, installers, importers/exporters, inspectors and consultants. NWFA is also
dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and
benefits of wood flooring. Membership now includes companies from 52 countries around the
world.
In the past few years, NWFA has helped the industry and its members advance by rebuilding
F its annual wood flooring expo, enhancing hands-on training, and launching NWFA University, an
online learning platform.
A major NWFA enhancement to the industry is the Responsible Procurement Program (RPP), a joint
initiative between leading environmental groups and wood flooring manufacturers. Both groups are
“Wood floors are the most committed to producing products from environmentally and socially responsible sources, improving forest
sustainability for future generations. Participating manufacturers commit to continuous progress increasing
environmentally friendly and improving environmental responsibility within the RPP framework.
flooring option available. We That framework includes introducing the “U.S. Renewing Forests” label into the marketplace. The label
work with our members to acknowledges the producer’s awareness that hardwood growth exceeds loss and removal from hardwood CREDIT: DANIELA/FLICKR
forests at the state level, based upon U.S. Forest Service data. It also
support the sustainability of verifies that timber, logs and wood used in the product were not
wood, both today and for harvested from controversial sources, such as illegally logged or highly FACTS
future generations, and to valued conservation areas.
RPP has wide support within the green industry. Participants
promote the numerous include the Rainforest Alliance, which works to conserve NUMBER OF MEMBERS: 3,400-plus
environmental and health biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming MEMBER BREAKDOWN:
land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior;
benefits of wood as a flooring SCS Global Services, a global leader in independent certification Contractors (39 percent); manufacturers
(19 percent); dealers/retailers (15 percent);
material. When properly and verification of environmental, sustainability, stewardship, distributors (13 percent); inspectors
maintained, they truly can last food quality, food safety and food purity claims; and the Forest (4 percent); importer/exporters (2 percent); ROLE MODELS
Stewardship Council (FSC), is an independent, non-governmental,
miscellaneous (8 percent)
for the life of the home.” not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible
management of the world’s forests. HEADQUARTERS: St. Louis
Michael Martin, NWFA
WEBSITE: www.nwfa.org
President and CEO
NUMBER OF ACTIVE SITES: N/A
KEY SERVICES OFFERED: NWFA
certified professionals; NWFA Education &
Research Foundation; NWFA Wood Flooring
Expo; technical education, including hands-
on training and online via NWFA University;
technical resources and guidelines; member
services; Hardwood Floors Magazine and
NWFA Industry Guide

MISSION STATEMENT: To promote
the use of wood flooring in residential,
educational and commercial environments,
and to provide members with the education
and training necessary for personal and
business success.

34 GREEN BUILDER May/June 2018 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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