American OEM has recently joined the National Wood Flooring Association's (NWFA) Responsible Procurement Program (RPP).

RPP is a joint initiative between leading environmental groups and wood flooring manufacturers committed to producing products that are sourced from environmentally and socially responsible sources, improving forest sustainability for future generations. Participating manufacturers commit to continuous progress within the RPP framework.

“It is gratifying to see the progress that has been made since the NWFA Responsible Procurement Program was originally conceived,” said Don Finkell, president of American OEM. “Recent changes with U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program now allow recognition of RPP as does the National Association of Home Builders’ green building standard. These are significant enhancements to the marketing of American-made wood flooring.”

RPP has recently been accepted into the 2015 edition of NAHB’s ICC/ASHRAE 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). NGBS is the only residential green building rating system approved by ANSI as an American national standard. Certification to this green building standard provides a credible pathway for the design and construction of sustainable residential buildings, with the goal of minimizing their environmental footprint.

RPP provides progressive tiers that act like rungs on a ladder on which participants move gradually upward toward ever-higher levels of social and environmental performance.

“We compete on a global stage,” said Allie Finkell, executive vice president of American OEM. “Environmental responsibility and legality are attributes of American wood products that we take for granted. But imported products cannot always make these same claims. The NWFA Responsible Procurement Program is an effective way to differentiate American OEM’s wood floors.”

Participating manufacturer members of the NWFA RPP include American OEM, Anderson, Mannington, Mullican, Shaw and Sheoga.

For more information, visit nwfa.org.