The Simple Answer is Sustainability…

Unfortunately the questions are a bit more complicated. What does it take to be a value to our community, our employees and our shareholders? What does it take for a company to open its’ doors and keep them open? What factor(s) weighs most heavily on the decisions we make as a company today and how do those decisions effect the next generation of associates, treatments, products and the environment?

Cox Industries has long been concerned about our impact on our communities and the environment and that concern has been seen not only in product and service innovations but in our relentless research into safer and more efficient ways to produce our products. Involvement with Green Globes, Green Guard and EPA WasteWise programs, products receiving the Good House Keeping Seal and Energy Star Ratings and our six decade long commitment to purchase wood from well managed Pine Plantations (recently documented by SFI and FSC certifications) are just the surface of our sustainability initiative.

But is it “Green”?
Let’s try to un-muddy the water a bit. First of all, “green” is a color. No more, no less. No doubt, by now, you may have heard of “green washing”. This is when a product or service is represented as something that is better for the environment than what is currently available. As of late there has been such a mass abuse of the term “green” it could be classified as pandemic. The true definition of whether something is sustainable or not is to measure equally a product’s or service’s impact on the environment, on society and on the bottom line. Our logo is “Green” our business is sustainable.

Formed in 2008, the Cox Industry’s Sustainability Advisory Panel is made up of university professors, philanthropists, conservationists and business Leaders coming together to help guide the decisions we make and lend a valuable outside perspective on the impact of those decisions on the environment, on society and on the bottom line.

For the communities that rely on us, as a responsible employer, sustainability means we are making the financial decisions that will keep us profitable for the years to come. Thus allowing us to increase our employee base, expand our product lines and make sure both remain strong contributors to the communities where our businesses operate and our employees live.

For our customers sustainability means we are supplying the most efficient and effective building materials available and we stand behind the commitments we make on service and quality. It also means we are up to date on current certifications and practices, which allows them to participate in sustainable building projects. But most importantly, sustainability means we stand with our customers to improve the products and services that will help them build their business.

For more information about the overall Cox Sustainability Initiative or any specific program, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 800-476-4401.

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Cox Receives SFI and FSC Certifications

Cox Industries’ Residential Products Division recently received certifications through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
“As part the Cox continued journey towards sustainability, these certifications dove-tail with the company’s concerns for the environment, for society and for financial stability”, said Michael Johnson, CEO. Ensuring better practices in the forestry and wood products industries protects not only the well being of our forests, but all of the livings creatures that depend on it. However the certifying agencies don’t stop there, in fact The FSC looks at how workers are treated and how they are paid. Even though certified wood is a little more expensive now, Cox believes, it isn’t nearly as expensive as it could be in the future without the proper control systems in place.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Established in 1993 as a response to concerns over global deforestation, FSC is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote responsible forest management worldwide.
FSC is a certification system that provides internationally recognized standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations, and communities interested in responsible forestry. Being FSC certified shows that you comply with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. As public concern about the state of the world’s forests and timber resources increases, FSC provides you with a simple solution to complex environmental and social issues. FSC certification is most widely known for its ties to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification program for commercial construction.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving a sustainable forestry certification program that is internationally recognized and among the largest in the world. The SFI Standard is based on principles and measures that promote sustainable forest management and consider all forest values. It includes unique fiber sourcing requirements promoting responsible forest management on all suppliers’ lands.
SFI is recognized as part of the National Green Building Standard which was developed by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The National Green Building Standard is coordinated with ANSI (American National Standards Institute), which has been the administrator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system for more than 90 years.
“Whether addressing environmental concerns for personal reasons or needing points qualifications as part of a “green” building program, for residential or commercial construction, the new SFI and FSC certifications have better positioned Cox to help our customers reach their goals” said Keith Harris, VP Marketing.

http://www.coxwood.com

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