The 21st century ushered in the environmental movement, and Stark Lumber is proud of our own "Green Initiative." Our commitment to the environment goes beyond mere words and encompasses the way we conduct our business, from making the most of our hardwood resources through modern milling processes, to using clean, efficient energy sources that lessen the impact we have on our ecosystem.

• Approximately 90% of Stark's hardwoods are purchased from the AHMI (Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc.) territory or AHR (Appalachian Hardwood Region). This region is a "SUSTAINABLE HARDWOOD FOREST" as defined by AHMI.

• Stark has made substantial investments in modern, high-tech equipment, decreasing our company's impact on the environment:
  • Stark's new rip infeed system results in an estimated material usage savings of 160,000 board feet per year, adding up to nearly 1 million board feet over the first six years of operation. Additionally, the straighter boards produced by this system are estimated to decrease after-milling waste by nearly 5%, as well decreasing after-market waste for our customers by an even greater amount.
  • Our Biomass wood-burning shop heater cleanly burns much of our waste and naturally heats our shop, resulting in decreased fossil energy usage and less waste being added to the landfill. The emissions from this high-tech furnace are clean, smokeless, and "carbon-neutral", which means they will not contribute to global warming and climate change as the burning of fossil fuels does. For more information on this process, click here.
  • Stark Lumber also invested in a hogger/grinder, further reducing our "carbon footprint" through better waste management. This system breaks down our waste which is not burned so it can better be used as compost, keeping more waste from ever entering the landfill.

• In 2007, Stark opted to switch over 30% of our energy usage from standard sources to wind energy.

• Stark has established a close relationship with Habitat For Humanity, donating all of our overrun products to their organization, ensuring that these products are not wasted, but rather, are used to help with Habitat's mission of providing quality, affordable housing for families in need.

Renewable, Abundant, and Sustainable.

American hardwoods have entered their fourth century of providing beauty and authenticity, warmth and integrity, lasting aesthetic and functional value to interiors. For floors, furniture, mouldings, millwork, cabinetry and built-ins, they are quintessentially green materials in abundant and self-renewing supply—a green design choice with intrinsic beauty and versatility.

• Collectively, across all hardwood trees in all American hardwood forests, there is nearly twice as much new wood growth as there is wood removed through harvesting. We are not running out of trees. The volume of hardwood in American forests is 352 billion cubic feet, and they are adding growth of 10.2 billion cubic feet a year. This compares to annual removal of 6 billion cubic feet.

• The U.S. Forest Service has determined that the Appalachian Hardwood Forest is increasing and that there are 2.29 trees growing for every tree that is being harvested. This forest meets present needs without compromising those of future generations—i.e., SUSTAINABILITY
  —AHMI September 26, 2007, analysis of data at www.appalachianhardwood.info

• There are more than 65.4 million acres of timberland in the Appalachian forest region, an actual increase over the past 15 years.
  —William Burkman Program Manager, Forest Inventory and Analysis

• Timber size hardwood stands (trees with diameter of at least 11 inches at breast height) now account for 64% of all Appalachian Forest acreage vs. only 57% in 1990.
  —William Burkman Program Manager, Forest Inventory and Analysis

• Average annual hardwood removals are estimated to be approximately one half of the average annual hardwood net growth (net growth = gross growth – mortality) in each county within each state (within the Appalachian Hardwood Forest).
  —William Burkman Program Manager, Forest Inventory and Analysis

• Average annual hardwood removals account for approximately 1% of the current total hardwood inventory in the Appalachian Hardwood Region.
  —William Burkman Program Manager, Forest Inventory and Analysis

Other information can be found at hardwoodinfo.com