June 6, 2002

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ben Lilliston - 612-870-3416

Lisa Swann 202 342-1388

St. Paul – Single-use wood pallets have long been considered an environmental nuisance, but the Summit Brewing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota has taken a major step toward making pallets more palatable. The company is purchasing pallets made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood.

Wood pallets, which are the platforms used to transport and store most goods sold in the US, are typically used once or twice and discarded. FSC-certified pallets benefit the environment by using wood from well-managed forests, which ensures water quality, species diversity, and long-term supplies of forest products. The 1.2 million acres of FSC-certified public land owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Cass County, and Aitkin County provides mixed hardwoods for the production of pallets. FSC certification recognizes the restoration of these forests, which in Minnesota means more diverse forests with larger trees. Quality pallets can be built from smaller diameter, less valuable logs that are removed from the forest as part of the restoration process, much like pulling weeds from a garden. These larger trees are more effective in protecting the water quality of the Mississippi River, where the Summit Brewing Company sources municipally-supplied water for its beer.

"Minnesota’s certified pallets are an excellent example of the social, environmental, and economic benefits certification provides to local communities. These pallets are made from timber grown in public forestlands that provide local communities with recreation, water quality protection, and job enhancement," said Hank Cauley, FSC-U.S. executive director. "Overall the market for pallets is enormous and the FSC intends to showcase Minnesota’s success to the rest of the country."

"The commitment of Summit to support responsible forestry here in Minnesota demonstrates that there are innovative ways that businesses can sustain and protect Minnesota forests and surrounding communities through their purchasing decisions. FSC certification of state and county lands have been a model of how we can maintain the biological richness of the Minnesota forest while at the same time support local forest products businesses," said Phil Guillery, of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and board member of the Forest Stewardship Council.

"Summit's use of FSC certified pallets is a living example of just how easy it is for virtually any business to do the right thing and support responsible forestry. Seeing these pallets moving through the existing supply chain reaffirms that FSC certification is a natural fit for any business interested in deliberately supporting balanced forest management," said Dave Bubser of Smartwood.

"Supporting sustainable forestry is a smart business investment for us," said Christopher Seitz of Summit Brewing Company. "Buying FSC certified pallets allows us to uphold our company values while encouraging forest management practices that protect clean water resources—an essential ingredient in quality beer. We especially like the direct connection between well managed forests in the Mississippi River watershed supplying wood for our pallets and protecting the quality of the water we use for our brewing."

"Pallets aren't glamorous as wood products go, but they are an excellent ‘value-added’ use for low-grade lumber. Improving markets for the ‘bad wood’ can help our local economy and our local forests. The ability to utilize poor quality trees will improve the health, quality, and value of our forest environment," said Mark Jacobs of the Aitkin County Land Department.

The FSC supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC promotes responsible forest management by evaluating and accrediting certifiers, by encouraging the development of national and regional forest management standards, and by providing public education and information about independent, third-party certification as a tool for ensuring that the world's forests are protected for future generations. Globally, some 70.3-million acres are certified by the FSC, with 12.3 million in North America, and over one million in Minnesota.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.

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