FSC & LEED®
Click on one of the following for more information:

LEED

The LEED® Materials and Resources Credit 7

NEW - The CaGBC encourages all Canadian manufacturers and distributors to achieve FSC
Chain of Custody (CoC) certification.

In order for a building project to achieve the MR 7

Earning Multiple Credits 

Find FSC-certified Products

Documents

Resources

LEED® (back to top)

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building rating system aims to assure environmentally sustainable design and construction by rating buildings on their ability to meet criteria in the following six categories: 

1. Sustainable site development
2. Water efficiency
3. Energy and atmosphere
4. Material selection and resource use
5. Indoor environmental quality
6. Innovation and design processes


In each of these categories there are points available for the use of specific design features, technologies or materials. Of the 70 points outlined in the LEED® Canada Standard, 17 are relevant to wood, and one credit is specific to the use of FSC-certified wood products. The intent of Materials and Resources Credit 7 (MRc7)or(‘Certified Wood’) is to encourage environmentally responsible forest management, and the credit is provided to buildings where 50% by cost of the wood used is FSC-certified.

There are other credits that can be combined with the Certified Wood credit so that a building project can earn multiple credits by using FSC-certified wood. For example, if a building uses FSC-certified wood (as per criteria of Credit MR 7), which is regionally sourced (as per criteria of Credit MR 5) then the building can get the MR 7 point and potentially 2 points under MR 5. For more information about how FSC-certified wood products can earn multiple credits under the rating system, click here

For more information about the LEED® green building rating system, visit: www.cagbc.org  

The LEED® Materials and Resources Credit 7 (back to top)

MRc 7 recognizes the environmental and social value of building with responsibly sourced wood by including a credit that is specific to the use of FSC-certified products. Buildings may earn this credit, with a value of one point, if a minimum of 50% of wood-based materials and products (by cost) in the building are FSC-certified. This includes, but is not limited to structural framing and general dimensional framing, flooring, finishes, furnishings, and non-rented temporary construction applications such as bracing, concrete form work and pedestrianbarriers. The MR7: Certified Wood credit can also be combined with other credits to earn multiple LEED® points. For more visit www.cagbc.org/leed/systems/new_construction/documents.php

NEW - The CaGBC encourages all Canadian manufacturers and distributors to achieve FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification.

Download CaGBC FAQ regarding FSC Chain of Custody certification for MRc7 - Certified Wood
 
On June 21st, the CaGBC confirmed that all vendors selling wood-based products to LEED projects must be FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certified in order for the products to qualify for LEED Materials and Resources Credit 7 (MRc7 - Certified Wood).

According to the CaGBC’s FAQ, “failure to purchase from an FSC CoC certified vendor may result in failure to meet LEED requirements”. The requirements for achieving the Certified Wood credit (MRc7) are the use of “a minimum of 50% (based on cost) of wood-based materials and products” in the building project.

All vendors selling permanently-installed wood products1 to the contractors or subcontractors of LEED projects registered under the following rating systems must be FSC Chain of Custody certified.
- LEED Canada for Homes;
- LEED Canada for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance 2009;
- LEED Canada for New Construction and Major Renovations 2009;
- LEED Canada for Core and Shell 2009; and
- All US LEED rating systems.

****** TO VERIFY THAT A VENDOR IS FSC-CERTIFIED please visit www.fsc-info.org and enter the vendor’s name and/or unique FSC certification code.

In order for a building project to achieve the MR 7 (back to top)

Certified Wood credit,  the project manager must provide, for each product purchased, the FSC  Chain of Custody certificate number (e.g. XXX-COC-######) from the  vendor or manufacturer from whom it was purchased. This means that the FSC-certified product must be purchased from a company that is FSC-certified. An invoice and shipping documents from the FSC-certified company that identifies the product type, cost per unit, status of product as FSC-certified, and the company's FSC certificate number is sufficient proof for the LEED® submittal requirements.

FSC-certified wood products purchased from non-certified suppliers may not be eligible for the LEED MRc7 credit. For a list of FSC-certified Wood Suppliers, visit: www.fsccanada.org/findwoodproducts.htm 

Earning Multiple Credits (back to top)

LEED registered projects qualifying for the certified wood credit may be able to achieve other wood-related points using the same product.
The four top credits most often combined with MRc7 are:  the use of local materials (MRc5), rapidly renewable materials (MRc6) and low emitting materials (IEQc4). 

Find FSC-certified Products (back to top)

Want to find FSC-certified suppliers in Canada?
Download a list of FSC-certified suppliers at www.fsccanada.org/findwoodproducts.htm

Still can't find the building materials you're looking for?
Submit your FSC product needs to info@fscus.org and they will be distributed to FSC suppliers across North America.

Want to verify if your supplier is FSC-certified?
Visit www.fsc-info.org to search the international database by certificate
code or company name.

Documents (back to top)

Resources (back to top)

Canadian Green Building Council www.cagbc.ca

US Green Building Council www.usgbc.com