Monday, 01 December 2003
Maine WoodNet First Group Chain-of-Custody in U.S.
Officially known as the Maine WoodNet Certified Group (MWNCG), nine participating members of Maine WoodNet were awarded a group chain-of-custody certificate (COC) in June 2002, granted by SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance. This is the first group COC awarded in the U.S., and only the second in the world.
The Wilderness Society launched Maine WoodNet to link western Maine’s wood products manufacturers into networks to enable small and mid-sized, independent manufacturers to collaborate when appropriate in order to solve common problems, or to take advantage of wood products for specialty markets. Maine WoodNet’s philosophy of encouraging wood use efficiency (they use every single piece of wood that is cut) and supporting improved forest stewardship made them a natural fit for seeking FSC-certification.
MWNCG is made up of nine companies, including two saw mills, which allow FSC-certified logs to flow straight from the mill to final product without breaking the chain-of-custody. The nine members span the value chain producing various items such as green and kiln-dried lumber, furniture parts, finished furniture, custom cabinets, signs, engraved wood products and handcrafted kitchen utensils.
The road to achieving the group COC was not an easy or short one, as MWNCG literally had to write a manual on how to establish and operate a certified group, and prove that Maine WoodNet had the organizational capacity to manage the certification program.
Some examples of MWNCG’s work in FSC-certified products can be found in the Maine Statehouse, including an 18’ x 7’ conference table located in the Cabinet room, as well as two W. A. Mitchell office chairs delivered this past summer to Governor John Baldacci.
In November 2001, the members of Maine WoodNet took their collaboration to the next level by opening a storefront retail space in Farmington, ME called Sugarwood Gallery. By opening the store as a group, it gives members the opportunity to sell their wares in a gallery-like setting, without each business having to each take on the cost of opening their own retail space. The members take turns operating the store, leaving them each time to continue focusing on designing and manufacturing their products. The store is a C-corp business, owned and operated by Maine WoodNet, and due to great demand, has already had to expand the space since they first opened.
MWNCG’s certification has had effects beyond their own ability to sell FSC-labeled products. According to Christine Krauss, coordinator of the group, MWNCG “is unique in that we can start with a certified log, go through the value chain to a multitude of products, and sell them through member owned SugarWood Gallery." With this strength of cooperation a local wood products manufacturer is seeking an individual COC certification because he wants to build a supplier relationship with MWNCG.