The LEED Materials and Resources, Credit 7 recognizes the environmental and social value of building with responsibly sourced wood products. Buildings may earn this credit, with a value of one point, if a minimum of 50% of wood-based materials and products (by cost) in the building are FSC-certified. This includes a wide range of wood products and uses including, but is not limited to structural framing and general dimensional framing, flooring, finishes, furnishings, etc.
The certified wood credit in LEED has been an important driver of FSC-certification in North America. There are 53 million ha (130 million acres) of FSC-certified forests in the U.S. and Canada, and over 4,000 suppliers of FSC-certified products. At the current rate of growth, 50% of Canada's forests will be FSC-certified by 2013.
FSC provides a guarantee that the wood and paper products you purchase come from healthy forests and strong communities. FSC is an international certification and labeling system for forests and forest products supported by WWF Canada, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club of Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation.