Environmentally Friendly

ITL's foresters, managers, engineers, and scientists are constantly seeking better ways to protect and sustain the natural resources, that provide the raw materials we sell to our customers. We actively enforce all federal and regional Sustainable Forest Initiatives (SFI). ITL supports and exceeds the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA), standards. And we participate and meet the most ridged independent environmental certification programs such as SmartWood. The people of ITL feel its their personal responsibility and business to sustain the forests, wildlife habitat, and ecosystems they work in, because it's our belief that a healthy environment, means a healthy future.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)

SFI was created by the American Forest & Paper Association. This program sets forth recommended practices for land management, reforestation, growing, nurturing, and harvesting trees, conserving soil, plus maintaining air and water purity. It also acts to protect wildlife habitat. Many states mandate specific forestry management, known as "Best Management Practices", or "BMP"s, as part of the Clean Water Act written in 1972 by the federal government and incorporated in SFI, which is mandatory on private as well as public lands.

The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA)

NHLA has it's own environmental standards/programs, which include the practices endorsed by the Sustainable Forest Initiative, (SFI). Industrial Timber & Lumber have set their own operating standards which exceed those of NHLA.

The Hardwood Manufacturers Association

An independent organization that provides facts, tips and useful advice about U.S. hardwoods and hardwood products. A source of practical ideas if you are selecting or caring for solid hardwood flooring, furniture, cabinetry and millwork. They provide information about U.S. hardwood forests and sustainable hardwood forestry.

Forest Stewardship Council

FSC is an international environmental non-profit group founded in 1993 and established to set international forest management standards and accredit and monitor certifiers. The FSC accreditation program "certifies the certifiers", to ensure that certifiers comply with the FSC principals and criteria for forest management. The following independent organizations endorse the FSC standards:

The National Resources Defense Council
The Rainforest Alliance
Greenpeace
The Wilderness Society
World Wildlife Fund

The Rainforest Alliance

An international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical rainforests for the benefit of the global community.

SmartWood

In 1989 the Rainforest Alliance conceived the first worldwide forest management certification program. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), accredited this program for forest management certification and chain-of- custody (COC) certification. The thrust of this program is the third party (SmartWood) certification, seen as the most credible way to insure to the public and the world, that forests are being well managed and wildlife habitat maintained. Chain-of-custody certification of primary and secondary manufacturers and wholesalers ensures that only wood that comes from certified forests are sold to consumers as a certified product.