Our Commitment to Sustainability
S&W Forest Products has been producing cedar shakes and shingles since 1964 — and responsible sourcing has been part of how we operate from the beginning. Sustainability, for us, isn’t a marketing claim. It’s embedded in every sourcing decision we make.
From the logs we select to the products we ship, environmental stewardship is part of every step.
Fallen Trees: From Fire Hazard to Finished Product
A meaningful share of the logs S&W Forest Products uses never stood in a logging operation — they were already on the ground. We actively recover fallen trees from the forest floor, salvaging sound timber that would otherwise accumulate as dry fuel.
Dead and downed wood is one of the primary contributors to catastrophic wildfire behaviour. As it dries on the forest floor it becomes kindling, dramatically increasing fire intensity and the likelihood that a manageable fire becomes an uncontrollable one. By removing this material and turning it into durable products, S&W participates directly in forest health management.
The wood gets a long second life in roofing, decking, siding, or fencing — sequestering the carbon it contains rather than releasing it in a wildfire.
Why it matters:
- Reduces wildfire fuel load — Fallen and downed timber is among the most dangerous fuel types in a forest. Its removal lowers fire intensity and the risk of crown fires spreading to standing trees.
- Supports forest regeneration — Clearing heavy debris allows sunlight to reach the forest floor and young trees to establish, contributing to a more diverse and resilient forest.
- Carbon stored, not released — Wood that burns releases all its stored carbon instantly. Wood that becomes a long-lived product keeps that carbon locked up for decades.
- No net new harvest required — Salvage sourcing means more finished product with less pressure on standing timber.
Zero-Waste Milling: Every Part of the Log Has a Purpose
Cedar milling done right produces almost no waste. At S&W, every part of the log is put to use:
- Shakes and shingles are cut from the clear, straight-grained heartwood — the product our customers know.
- Chips and sawdust are recovered and directed to paper manufacturing or biomass energy, displacing fossil fuels.
- Bark and off-cuts are used for landscape mulch or returned to the land.
The result is a manufacturing process that sends virtually nothing to landfill. Wood is a resource too valuable to waste — and our mill operations reflect that.
The Science: Western Red Cedar Life Cycle Assessment
The Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau — the industry association S&W Forest Products is a proud member of — commissioned a peer-reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Western Red Cedar siding and decking. The findings are compelling.
An LCA measures the environmental impact of a product across its entire life: from forest to mill to job site to end of life. It accounts for energy use, water consumption, transportation, manufacturing emissions, and what happens when the material is eventually disposed of.
The LCA was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040/44 standards — the internationally recognized framework for life cycle assessment methodology — and was independently peer-reviewed.
Key findings of the Western Red Cedar LCA:
- Cedar sequesters more carbon during its growth than is emitted in its harvesting and processing — resulting in net negative embodied carbon
- Dramatically lower global warming potential than steel, aluminum, or composite alternatives
- Low energy inputs in milling compared to metal or plastic manufacturing
- 100% biodegradable at end of life — no plastic waste left behind
- Sustainably managed forests regrow the same material within a human lifetime
For architects, contractors, and homeowners who want to specify products with real environmental credentials, Western Red Cedar offers documentation that most alternative materials simply cannot match.
Industry Standards & Certifications
Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau
S&W Forest Products is a long standing member of The Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau®, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of Certi-label® Cedar roofing and sidewall products. The Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau® has been the recognized authority for its expertise in Cedar Shakes and Shingles since 1915.
PEFC
PEFC cares for forests locally and globally by promoting sustainable forest management practices through certification. Chain of custody certification provides independent verifiable assurance that the forest based materials originate from sustainably managed forests. S&W Forest Products is proud to be PEFC chain of custody certified, enabling us to demonstrate our legal and sustainable sourcing of forest products to our customers.
