Sustainability Policies - Boise Cascade
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Sustainability Policies

The success of our company depends on responsible environmental stewardship. Our sustainability policies are the foundation of our commitments.

CEO Sustainability Commitment

Dear fellow employees:

Boise Cascade Company’s commitment to sustainable forestry means we will continually achieve certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™), and at select locations the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain of Custody, Due Diligence System Standards, and Trademark Use Rules, as well as comply with U.S. environmental, social, and health and safety laws and regulations, including those related to workers’ rights.

We have implemented certified, chain of custody fiber tracking systems at every production facility across the company to support our products and our customers.  These certifications validate our commitment to responsible procurement practices and environmental stewardship.  To help implement and achieve the above sustainable forestry standards, Boise Cascade Company has developed and adopted appropriate programs, plans, and procedures to guide its fiber procurement, supply chain tracking, and labeling activities.

Annually, we undergo independent third-party audits to test our ongoing compliance to each of the certification programs and our own policies and procedures.  We also employ a formal management review process to evaluate the effectiveness of our programs and utilize the results to make improvements to our support systems.

Thank you for your dedication to this important corporate responsibility.  Your support will help ensure that we maintain compliance with the standards and meet customer expectations related to our products and environmental performance.

Approved: May 1, 2015

Tom Corrick
Chief Executive Officer

Environmental Policy

To ensure our operations will not pose a significant risk to public health or the environment, Boise Cascade will:

  1. Comply with the letter and intent of all applicable environmental laws and regulations and with all other environmental requirements subscribed to by the company.
    (See separate policies specifically addressing Boise Cascade Policy 10.3 – Roundwood, Fiber, Veneer and OSB Procurement, and Boise Cascade Policy 10.4 – Sustainable Forestry Implementation.)
  2. Communicate our environmental policy to our employees.
  3. Train our employees in their responsibilities for environmental compliance and pollution prevention.
  4. Make environmental compliance a priority and emphasize pollution prevention and efficient use of resources in planning and operating our facilities.
  5. Utilize biomass fuels as practical and pursue technically and economically feasible energy conservation measures to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.
  6. Conduct periodic evaluations of our environmental compliance and environmental management systems.
  7. Constructively work with elected bodies, government agencies, trade associations, environmental organizations, and others to develop practical and effective environmental laws and regulations.
  8. Support research on the environmental effects of our raw materials, products, processes, discharges, emissions, and wastes.

All of our employees are expected to be aware of and to comply with this policy, and all environmental laws and regulations relevant to their jobs. Employees are subject to disciplinary action for violating any portion of this policy.

Approved: March 7, 2015

Tom Corrick
Chief Executive Officer

Roundwood, Fiber, Veneer, and OSB Procurement Policy

Boise Cascade Wood Products LLC (Boise Cascade) is an international wood products company that is committed to implementing and achieving sustainable forestry where it procures roundwood, oriented strand board, and veneer from other forest landowners, wood suppliers, and manufacturers. To practice sustainable forestry is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing a land stewardship ethic that integrates reforestation, and the managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air, and water quality, biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitat, recreation, and aesthetics.

Boise Cascade is committed to implementing internationally recognized forestry certification programs, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™) Standards and the requirements addressing responsible wood procurement from sustainably managed forests. Boise Cascade seeks to continually increase its procurement from certified sources.

Boise Cascade is committed to compliance with all national and international environmental, forestry, worker protection, and other relevant laws and regulations. Boise Cascade expects all of its wood suppliers to comply with laws and regulations pertaining to their forestry operations and provide information regarding fiber source and certification percentage.

Boise Cascade encourages forest landowners from whom it purchases wood to reforest following harvest, our contracts require the use best management practices (BMP’s), and we help to identify and protect important habitat elements for wildlife, including Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value.

Boise Cascade implements best efforts to avoid purchase wood that originates from illegal sources, fiber harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights, wood harvested in forests where high conservation values are threatened by management activities, wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use, wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted, or wood from old growth forests. When conducting harvesting operations in forests that contain threatened and endangered species and communities, Boise Cascade complies with all laws and regulations to protect these species and communities. Our procurement personnel are responsible for tracking the geographic origin, legality, and certification status of fiber purchased for our production facilities.

Boise Cascade encourages the professionalism of direct suppliers and all wood producers through ongoing education and training. Boise Cascade requires trained independent logging professionals on all harvest operations to minimize negative impacts to the environment.

Boise Cascade cooperatively works with governmental and non-governmental organizations that are dedicated to the wise use of forest resources and seeks constructive solutions to environmental issues and challenges. Through partnerships, Boise Cascade maintains its leadership position in the business community to ensure an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable future.

Approved: March 7, 2015

Tom Corrick
Chief Executive Officer

Boise Cascade Policy 10.3: Roundwood, Fiber, Veneer and OSB Procurement

Sustainable Forestry Implementation Policy

Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC (Boise Cascade) is committed to continually achieve compliance to several credible certification standards, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®), the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®), and the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™) standards by employing management practices throughout company operations and extending these practices to other forest landowners by promoting sustainable forestry and contributing to continuous improvement of science through research.

Boise Cascade is also committed to implementing the chain of custody system under the standards we participate in, for our fiber procurement and manufacturing operations. Boise Cascade implements best efforts to avoid purchase wood that originates from illegal sources, fiber harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights, wood harvested in forests where high conservation values are threatened by management activities, wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use, wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted, or wood from old growth forests. When conducting harvesting operations in forests that contain threatened and endangered species and communities, Boise Cascade complies with all laws and regulations to protect these species and communities. Our procurement personnel are responsible for tracking the geographic origin, legality, and certification status of fiber purchased for our production facilities.

Boise Cascade is committed to sourcing wood material from responsibly managed sources. In addition to the SFI, PEFC and FSC Standards, Boise Cascade recognizes and promotes certification to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), American Tree Farm System (ATFS) Standards, and logger and point-of-harvest certification.

To achieve our goals for Sustainable Forestry, the company has developed a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and/or procedures to guide its management practices. These documents are supported by a regional Evidence Summary and an Evidence File. Company programs work in concert with, and are supported by applicable international, federal, state laws and regulations, other internal guidelines, and state defined guidelines and Best Management Practices (BMPs).

As established by the company Environmental Commitment, the company operations will comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including social laws addressing civil rights, equal employment opportunities, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment measures, worker’s compensation, indigenous peoples, worker and community right-to-know, prevailing wage laws, workers right-to-organize and occupational health and safety, and workers protection standards.

In keeping with its stewardship responsibility and commitment to society, recognizing the importance of maintaining viable commercial, family forest, and conservation of forestland bases, Boise Cascade has adopted the following set of written polices to guide its programs, procedures, and management practices.

  1. Boise Cascade will promote the practice of sustainable forestry to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs by practicing a land stewardship ethic that integrates reforestation and the managing, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products with the conservation of soil, air and water quality, biological diversity, wildlife and aquatic habitat, cultural resources, recreation, and aesthetics.
  2. Boise Cascade will promote management practices to protect and maintain long-term forest and soil productivity, by promoting the protection of the forest land base from damaging agents such as wildfire, pests, invasive species and diseases, to maintain and improve long-term forest health, productivity, and economic viability
  3. Boise Cascade requires best management practices that provide protection for water bodies and riparian zones on all purchase stumpage and log purchase harvests.
  4. Boise Cascade will encourage other forest landowners to protect lands of special significance in a manner that takes into account their unique qualities and to promote a diversity of wildlife habitats, forest types, and ecological or natural community types.
  5. Boise Cascade will promote among other forestry enterprises management practices that minimize visual impacts of forest operations and enhance recreational opportunities.
  6. Boise Cascade will encourage protection of forest and lands of special significance, including ecological, geological, and cultural values.
  7. Boise Cascade will promote among other forest landowners sustainable forestry practices that are both scientifically credible and economically, environmentally, and socially responsible.
  8. Boise Cascade will conduct all operations to comply with applicable international, federal, provincial, state, and local forestry, environmental, and social laws, statutes, and regulations.
  9. Boise Cascade will provide support for forestry and natural resource science and research.
  10. Boise Cascade will work individually and through cooperative efforts to improve training and landowner educational materials and opportunities.
  11. Boise Cascade will broaden the practice of sustainable forestry through community involvement and socially responsible business practices.
  12. Boise Cascade will make summaries of independent third-party audits available through certification program mechanisms.
  13. Boise Cascade will promote continual improvement in the practice of sustainable forestry and monitor, measure and report performance in achieving the commitment to sustainable forestry.
  14. Boise Cascade will take steps to avoid sourcing fiber from controversial sources, areas without effective social laws and wood harvested illegally.
  15. Boise Cascade is committed to implement the SFI®, PEFC™, and FSC® Chain-of-Custody Forest Products Standards at designated locations for the purpose of communicating fiber sourcing and certification attributes to our customers. Boise Cascade will employ dedicated accounting and fiber tracking systems to ensure accurate information is passed along with our products to customers. Boise Cascade will also implement an ongoing control system to test, review, and report the integrity of the data. Boise Cascade will utilize a Management Review Process to evaluate effectiveness of our Chain-of-Custody systems and drive continuous improvement.

Approved: March 7, 2015

Tom Corrick
Chief Executive Officer

Boise Cascade Policy 10.4: Sustainable Forestry Implementation