COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Presented by Gary Heroux Vice President, Product Acceptance Composite Panel Association July 25, 2013 AWFS Fair The ECC Sustainability Standard

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION  What is the CPA?  Previous EPP Specification  ECC Sustainability Standard, Carbon Calculator & Certification Program  ECC Finished Products Certification Program  Program Implementation Schedule Outline

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION What is CPA? North American trade association Approximately 180 member companies Offices in Leesburg, Virginia, and Ottawa, Ontario Represents 95% of particleboard, MDF and hardboard manufacturing in North America Represents most wood-based decorative surfacing manufacturers in North America Also represents many of the largest suppliers, distributors and finished product manufacturers serving the North American market

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION What is CPA? Operates largest and most stringent certification program in North America for panel emissions and physical properties Operates the International Testing and Certification Center (ITCC), an independent laboratory accredited by US NIST Sponsors industry ANSI standards for particleboard, MDF, hardboard and engineered wood siding and trim

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION What is CPA? Lobbies in US and Canada for industry business interests Intervenes in major legislative and regulatory matters, including US EPA’s MACT proceedings, federal and state formaldehyde regulations, and fiber and energy initiatives Publishes monthly and annual reports on industry economic performance

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION (retired December 31, 2011) EPP Specification CPA 3-08  Part 1 required use of 100% recycled or recovered wood fiber  Part 2 required formaldehyde emissions that meet CARB Phase 2 requirements

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION EPP Downstream Program  Free to any downstream manufacturer that uses composite wood panels  Signed license agreement requires that at least 50% or 95% of the panels purchased are EPP certified

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Objectives and Requirements

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECO-CERTIFIED COMPOSITE (ECC) Standard CPA 4-11  Voluntary standard approved in September 2011 by the CPA Board  Applies to particleboard, MDF, hardboard, and engineered wood siding & trim  Certification is granted on a plant basis, not for individual panels  Requires an annual audit

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Standard  Plant must use an independent third party certifier for formaldehyde emissions unless all products are “CARB exempt” from testing  Only panels that are CARB compliant or exempt from the CARB Rule may be labeled ECC certified  Plant must conform to at least 3 of 5 specific environmental criteria to qualify for ECC recognition

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Standard 1) Carbon Footprint  Demonstrate that the panel’s cradle-to-gate carbon footprint as determined in kg-CO 2 equivalents of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Each production facility will use the CPA supplied carbon calculator to determine if its panels perform as a net carbon sink.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION The Carbon Calculator The Carbon Calculator is the sole property of the Composite Panel Association (CPA) and may not be used in whole or in part without CPA’s prior written consent.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION The Carbon Calculator is the sole property of the Composite Panel Association (CPA) and may not be used in whole or in part without CPA’s prior written consent.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Standard 2) Local and Renewable Resource  At least 85% of wood fiber is sourced within 250 miles of the panel plant.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Standard 3 ) Recycled/Recovered  Use of a minimum of 75% recycled or recovered wood fiber; OR  Use of at least 50% recycled or recovered wood fiber AND a minimum of 5% post-consumer wood fiber.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Standard 4) Sustainability  97% of wood fiber furnish is either converted into panels or re-utilized as a valued product.  Non-valued products include wood residuals shipped to a landfill, material hauled away for a tipping fee as waste material, and boiler ash waste.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Standard 5) Wood Sourcing  Must include assessment of 100% of wood fiber  Demonstrate conformity to one of the following:  FSC - Controlled Wood Standard (2008)  FSC - Chain of Custody Standard (2008)  SFI – Fiber Sourcing Requirements (2011)

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION ECC Finished Products Program

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Finished Products Program  Replaces EPP Downstream Program  Eligible Participants  Fabricators of finished products  Fabricators of components  Laminators

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Finished Products Program  Requirements  At least 95% of a participant’s composite wood must be certified as ECC.  At least 50% of a finished product’s content (by volume or weight) must be composite wood that is certified in accordance with the ECC standard.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Finished Products Audit  Annual Verification Audits  Year One: Onsite Audit  Year Two: Desk Audit  Onsite Audit Every Other Year

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Branding & Marketing

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Branding  “Sustainable Use of Wood Fiber”  Life Cycle Analysis  Low Emissions (CARB Phase II) Pre-requisite  Verifiable Assurance to Customers (Audited Certification)  Single Nomenclature and Logo

ECC: A Universal Identity The ECC identification mark (logo) is the sole property of the Composite Panel Association (CPA) and may not be used in whole or in part without CPA’s prior written consent. Trademark registration is pending.

ECC: The Whole Value Chain Panel Manufacturer Fabricator Finished Product Retailer Consumer

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Implementation Schedule  2012  ECC certification offered to composite panel manufacturers.  To date, 49 panel plants participate in the program.  2013  ECC Finished Products certification started.  To date, 26 facilities participate in the program.

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Beyond2013  For future consideration  Expanding Retail and Consumer Pull Through  Expanding Media and Third Party Recognition  Further Coordination with Other Standards and Regulations  Product and Geographic Applicability  Customization of ECC Criteria

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION Additional Resources Composite Panel Association Gary Heroux – ext