For wholesale lumber sellers like J. Gibson McIlvain, the legality of logging and lumber is crucial. The consequences of a single supply chain breach might be disastrous for our firm and, even worse, for the environment. Our economic acumen, as well as our desire to be good citizens, drives us to consistently raise our awareness of the difficulties confronting today’s wholesale lumber market.
It is in our best interests to protect forests around the world and to acquire properly milled, traded & imported lumber. We’d be out of business if we didn’t prioritize such concerns.
The Lacey Act was a significant step forward in securing the legality of logging and lumber importing. In 2008, a change to this 100-year-old law was made to put the lumber industry under its protection. This act makes everybody in the supply chain now liable for the legality of everyone involved in the product, prohibiting the sale, trading, and transport of unlawfully obtained plants and animals. This act is far-reaching in its ability to help in halting illegal lumber harvesting, trading, and sales by putting the onus of inquiry on everyone from shippers to consumers.
It’s no longer enough to check merely for documents; certifications might be forged, thus their legitimacy must be thoroughly investigated. It can be time-consuming and difficult to verify the legitimacy of lumber vendors’ claims. Finding reliable loggers, exporters, importers, distributers, and dealers may take some time and work, but you’ll be relieved to be above-board in your business dealings as well as your supporting ethical environmental and social responsibilities. The illicit market for lumber is hampered when everyone does their part to study the path of lumber production all the way back to the source. When it becomes unprofitable for illegal lumber companies to run their illicit businesses, the local economy, as well as the legal lumber trade, will prosper.
Wholesale lumber merchants like J. Gibson McIlvain must thoroughly investigate their lumber sources or risk losing their business. Currently, imported exotic hardwoods account for more than half of our lumber business. To keep this trend going, we’ll need lumber sources that are concerned about environmental sustainability and wood which is harvested legally. Although we understood this prior to 2008, the Lacey Act’s subsequent modifications have resulted in additional incentives.
We have local agents in South America, Africa, and Agents who undertake on-site visits and are in constant communication with sawmills and other areas of the supply chain to ensure our compliance with these standards.
We are unwilling to compromise on the integrity of lumber in international markets, since J. Gibson McIlvain values its reputation for trust built over 200 years of company history. Our specialists will be pleased to provide you with further information on how to conduct your own due diligence regarding the supply chain from which your specific wood products are produced.
