Impact of certification on markets for manufactured wood products

Environmental certification of forests and ecolabeling of wood products has been an important issue in the forest industry during the past decade. Although certified and labeled forest products are still a minor part of the overall marketplace, certification has had a significant marketplace impact. Along with other factors, such as the growing power of big box retailers, certification has lead to structural changes in the marketplace and in certain cases has totally shifted the way products go to market. This paper will provide examples of the changes in the marketplace resulting from forest certification as well as treatment of certification as a component of product quality. Certification often has few direct impacts on the drying of wood products. However, indirect impacts via development of new products and exploration of new markets can be important. Certification and product labeling will continue to grow in the short term. The future is difficult to predict, but additional changes in the marketplace can be expected.