Twenty-six locations operated by 84 Lumber Co., one of the nation’s leading lumber dealers, now are selling Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood. The FSC Chain of Custody Certification ensures that wood products meet the organization’s rigid standards from raw materials through processing, transformation, manufacturing, and distribution. The FSC, whose board includes lumber companies and dealers and environmentalists, coordinates the development of forest management standards throughout the United States.

In a statement, 84 Lumber said that all its FSC-certified products will come from “forests that are environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable.” The products, both in stock and through special order, can be used to earn points in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program and the NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines program,  as well as many other state and local green building programs. “FSC-certified products are a value-added service for our increasingly environmentally conscious customers,” said Kathleen Mannas, green products manager at 84 Lumber. “The FSC supports healthy forests and communities, and 84 Lumber is a strong proponent of this initiative.”

The following 84 Lumber stores received the FSC Chain of Custody Certification: Bridgeville, Mars, Grove City, Clarion, and Eighty Four, Pa.; Moundsville, W.Va.; North Eaton (Columbia Station), Painesville, Macedonia, and Massillon, Ohio; Rochester, Middletown, Ithaca, Elma, Watertown, and Riverhead, N.Y.; Wyoming (Grand Rapids), Mich.; Karns (Knoxville), Tenn.; Mount Airy, Md.; Ft. Myers, Fla.; Gurnee, Ill.; Las Vegas; Henderson, Colo.; Chandler, Ariz.; and Beaumont and Hesperia, Calif.

84 Lumber, which ranked No. 3 on the 2008 ProSales 100 list of the nation’s leading lumber dealers (PDF) with $3.1 billion in sales, has 368 locations nationwide. According to Mannas, the lumber supplier will expand its FSC-certified line as demand dictates.

“We want to focus on our current customers that are expanding to green building and also bring in new customers,” including custom builders, remodelers, government contractors, and developers, Mannas told EcoHome. “We want to focus on everyone.”

The 26 stores give a much-needed shot in the arm to the FSC-certified material industry. According to data provided by Forest Certification Resource Center, prior to 84 Lumber’s announcement, there were only 53 FSC-certified locations operated by 46 companies. The additions also provide the Northeast with much-needed accessibility to FSC-certified products.