Through our Responsible Wood Purchasing Program, BlueLinx delivers high-performance, quality materials that do not contribute to the degradation of forests and other natural systems.

Preamble

BlueLinx recognizes that we have a responsibility to the environment and, in particular, a responsibility to promote the sustainable management, conservation, protection and restoration of the world’s forests. As a leader in the building products sector, BlueLinx is positioned to influence the supply and demand in the global market for wood-based building products, and thus contribute to the development of environmental solutions that influence responsible forest management. BlueLinx fully supports responsible forest management practices that promote ecosystem sustainability and long-term social and economic benefits.

BlueLinx will achieve this policy through the means of a stepwise approach to responsible purchasing of forest products, believing that this is a pragmatic and workable mechanism. BlueLinx will prefer to do business with suppliers who are legitimately certified or participants in stepwise programs to obtain legitimate certification in places such as Indonesia, where support from responsible buyers is key to a sustainable market for wood products.

Toward these ends, BlueLinx hereby establishes the following policy commitments:

Policy

BlueLinx will work with all vendors and associated suppliers to trace the origin of our products.

Explanation: Traceability in the forest product supply chain is crucial to assessing whether or not the forest products used were derived through environmentally responsible means. BlueLinx will attempt to determine not just where current products were purchased, but where they were harvested, taking into account the possible necessity for third-party verification.

BlueLinx will require that all vendors and associated suppliers demonstrate compliance with all legal requirements for forest management, harvest, manufacturing and trade, with third-party verification in areas / trades we determine as high risk.

Explanation: BlueLinx will work to ensure that no market advantage is realized by entities that circumvent the law, and encourage support for forest conservation, protection and environmental law enforcement mechanisms.

BlueLinx will work with our suppliers towards eliminating its purchase of wood, paper and other forest products from high-conservation-value forests unless these operations are legitimately certified or committed to progressing towards certification within a reasonable time frame and in accordance with a written action plan.

Explanation: BlueLinx intends to expedite the transition away from forest harvesting practices that lead to environmental degradation and will embrace a scientifically legitimate, land-based assessment to identify and appropriately manage forests that contain exceptional environmental value. BlueLinx will remain aware of controversial source areas that may be identified by internal and external stakeholders.

BlueLinx will give purchasing preference to products from legitimately certified, well-managed forests and those from suppliers that have made a commitment to progress towards legitimate certification.

Explanation: BlueLinx intends to promote the development of markets for environmentally preferable products by supporting certification of best management practices through the purchase of legitimately certified forest products. BlueLinx will promote the sourcing of products from forests which are committed to a time-bound and transparent stepwise process to achieve legitimate certification.

BlueLinx will promote the efficient use of wood, paper and other forest products.

Explanation: BlueLinx intends to contribute to efforts that maximize use of the entire fiber resource.

BlueLinx will publish and distribute to interested stakeholders a corporate responsibility report, which will detail our progress in implementing this policy and commitment to continuous improvement.

Explanation: BlueLinx will seek to maintain open communications and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders interested in our environmental performance by providing standardized information about our environmental performance on an annual basis. BlueLinx will seek the views of key stakeholders when assessing performance of this policy and related programs and in the development of new policy and targets.

In evaluating the legitimacy of certification schemes, BlueLinx will: (i) consult with key environmental and social organizations for their opinions on acceptable standards for forest management in the applicable region; (ii) consider compatibility of forest management standards with economic, ecological, and equity criteria; and (iii) seek independent verification of compliance with these standards.