Sustainability

At Vermont Hardwoods, sustainability isn’t an afterthought. It’s the guiding force behind how we source materials, manufacture products, and operate our facility. Since 1979, we’ve worked with responsibly harvested wood from U.S. forests to create beautiful hardwood flooring and custom picture frame moulding with minimal environmental impact.

Our Approach to Sustainability

Wood as a Renewable Resource

As a naturally renewable resource, wood is one of the most environmentally responsible materials available. With sunlight and rain, forests naturally regenerate, making wood renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. Responsibly managed forests also support wildlife habitats, protect air and water quality, and provide jobs for local communities.

Across the United States, forest growth continues to outpace harvesting. In every U.S. state, including Vermont, harvesting levels are currently well below growth rates, ensuring long-term forest health and sustainability for future generations.

Responsible Sourcing

In keeping with Vermont tradition, we like to source locally. All of our wood is sourced from North American forests that are carefully regulated and actively managed. These forests have expanded over time due to responsible stewardship. By sourcing regionally from Appalachian and New England forests, we also reduce transportation distances, lowering both energy use and emissions.

Reducing Waste and Energy Use

We are committed to minimizing waste and improving efficiency throughout our operations:

Wood byproducts such as rippings, edgings, and cutoffs are repurposed and sold for kindling
Sawdust and wood chips are collected and sent to a processing facility to be turned into pellets, some of which we reuse as a supplemental heating source
Paper, cardboard, cans, bottles, and batteries are recycled
Manufacturing waste such as oil and coolant is handled by a certified environmental partner
Our facility has also been evaluated by Efficiency Vermont, leading to several energy-saving improvements:
- Energy-efficient LED lighting installed throughout the building
- Solar tubes that provide natural daylight
- Motion-sensor lighting in the warehouse
- A solar-powered road sign for low-light hours

In addition, our dust collection system recirculates air back into the building, helping reduce energy consumption year-round.

Healthier Work Environment

We take steps to create a safer and healthier workplace for our team. Our facility is cleaned using Norwex products, which significantly reduce the need for traditional chemical cleaners.

Product-Specific Sustainability Practices

While our overall approach guides everything we do, certain sustainability practices apply specifically to individual product lines.

Wide Plank Flooring

Our flooring is produced using responsibly sourced wood from North American forests. Because our flooring is not pre-finished, no paints, stains, or surface coatings are applied during manufacturing. This reduces chemical use at our facility and allows finishing to be completed on-site according to project needs and customer preferences.

Wood flooring also plays a role in reducing carbon emissions. Trees absorb carbon dioxide during their lifetime, and that carbon remains stored in the wood long after it’s harvested and used in long-lasting products like flooring. This keeps that carbon stored instead of releasing it into the atmosphere when wood waste rots.

Picture Frame Moulding

In addition to the same sourcing and carbon-reducing points listed above, our picture frame moulding includes finishing processes that are not used for flooring:

We use water-based paints and stains that significantly reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), improving air quality for both our team and customers.
Select finishes incorporate tung oil, which penetrates deeply into the wood and creates a durable, natural-looking finish.
Hand application methods are used when possible to improve control and further reduce emissions compared to spraying.
By using modern, lower-impact finishing technologies, we can achieve high-quality results while minimizing environmental and health impacts.

A Long-Term Commitment

Sustainability at Vermont Hardwoods is an ongoing commitment. From the forests we rely on to the way we operate every day, we continue to look for opportunities to reduce our impact, improve efficiency, and support environmental stewardship.