ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION OF WOOD PRODUCTS - THE US MANUFACTURERS PERSPECTIVE

A study was conducted in the spring of 1997 to determine the attitudes of U.S. wood products manufacturers with regard to environmental cert ification of wood products and a willingness to pay a price premium fo r certified products. Results indicate that respondents believe that t heir companies currently have policies in place aimed at environmental stewardship and that they are committed to environmental improvement. However, the general sentiment is that there is little need for certi fication of temperate forests or tropical forests. In stark contrast t o U.S. consumers, manufacturers indicate they themselves are the most trusted group to certify forest management and harvesting. Results als o indicate that respondents are generally not willing to pay a price p remium for certified raw materials nor for costs associated with chain -of-custody procedures unless these costs can be offset by higher pric es charged to customers.