Largest California Homebuilders Announce Forest Policies

In a major achievement for environmental activists, two of the nation’s largest homebuilders, Kaufman & Broad (K&B) and Centex Homes, have publicly committed to eliminating their use of wood from endangered forests. Both statements arrived just days before an April 1 “Day of Action” planned by the Rainforest Action Network and other organizations against the two companies. Following the commitments, RAN campaign director Michael Brune called off the events and declared victory.

Although the statements issued by both companies are similar, there may yet be significant differences in how the commitments are interpreted and carried out. K&B has been actively engaged with the Natural Resources Defense Council for eighteen months, working to reduce overall wood use and reliance on wood from sensitive sources. This relationship has also brought K&B to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Program. Although K&B’s announcement does not specifically mention the Forest Stewardship Council standards, Sami Yassa of NRDC reports that K&B officials will soon be meeting with representatives of the Certified Forest Products Council, and prospects are good for a long-term commitment to FSC-certified wood as it becomes available. K&B is hiring a senior level environmental audit officer, who will be responsible for implementing a wood purchasing policy.