2023 Wood Furniture Scorecard Methodology

The Sustainable Furnishings Council and the National Wildlife Federation are set to begin the 2023 scoring process of their impactful joint initiative, The Wood Furniture Scorecard (WFS). Since its inception in 2018, the goal of the WFS is to encourage furniture retailers, big or small, to implement robust policies that drive responsible wood-sourcing practices through their complex supply chains.

Every year, we update the Score Methodology and want to share that with you here.

2023 WOOD FURNITURE SCORECARD

SCORING METHODOLOGY & CATEGORIES

Changes from 2022 are highlighted in red text below

METHODOLOGY

*POLICY*
CRITERIA	POINTS	NOTES
Responsible wood sourcing policy is on website	3
Policy has commitment to avoid sourcing illegal and/or controversial wood (conversion, high conservation values, conflict timber, wood harvesting in violation of indigenous or community rights)	2
Policy includes commitment to certified wood – any certification system	2
Policy includes preference for FSC certified (over other certification systems) and/or reclaimed/recycled wood	2	This is added to the 2 points above for a total of 4 points for certification policy.
POINTS POSSIBLE: SUB-TOTAL	9
*PRACTICES & PERFORMANCE*
Company publishes quantitative responsible sourcing goals/targets	1
Company publicly reports on progress made towards responsible sourcing goals/targets	2
3rd party verification of public reporting	2
Company reports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is certified under any certification system, reclaimed/recycled wood, and/or acceptable plantation wood.	2	Forest certification systems include FSC, PEFC and SFI (American Tree Farm System Certification and CSA are under the SFI umbrella). Reclaimed/recycled wood includes products with pre- or post-consumer recycled content; wood reclaimed from old buildings and other structures; as well as wood salvaged from lake/river bottoms, urban wood (e.g., from street trees or parks) or similar sources. Acceptable plantation woods means that the plantation was not established through the conversion of natural forest in the last 25 years. It is the responsibility to the company being scored to provide evidence.
For the following, scoring is based on company size: Smaller company = under $25M in annual sales and Larger company = over $25M in annual sales
Smaller companyreports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood, OR Larger company reports more than 10% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood	3	This is added to the 2 points above for a total of 5.
Smaller company reports more than 50% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood, OR Larger company reports more than 25% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood	3	This is added to the 5 points above for a total of 8.
Smaller company reports more than 75% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood, OR Larger company reports more than 50% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood	3	This is added to the 8 points above for a total of 11.
Smaller company reports more than 90% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood, OR Larger company reports more than 75% of wood furniture purchased or sold is FSC certified and/or reclaimed/recycled wood	3	This is added to the 11 points above for a total of 14.
POINTS POSSIBLE: SUB-TOTAL	19
*ADDITIONAL ACTIONS*
Anything at all on website about sustainability	1
Sustainable Furnishings Council member	1
Website includes statement on legal and/or responsible wood sourcing commitment	1
Visibly offers recycled/reclaimed wood furniture for sale on website	2
Visibly offers for sale on website wood furniture certified under any forest certification system	2
Visibly offers FSC-certified wood furniture for sale on website	2	This is added to the 2 points above for a total of 4 for certified furniture on website.
Company demonstrates progress in responsible wood sourcing under the Scorecard framework	2	Increased from 1 to 2 for 2023. If a policy is in place, progress must include evidence of implementation.
Company fails to demonstrate progress in responsible sourcing under the Scorecard framework	-2	Overall score cannot fall less than zero.
POINTS POSSIBLE: SUB-TOTAL	11
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE	39	Increased from 35 in 2022

CATEGORIES

TOP SCORE	29+ points	Raised from 26+ in 2022
HIGH SCORE	20 through 28	Raised from 17-25 in 2022
MOST IMPROVED	Awarded points are <20	Awarded to companies that earn at least 10 points more than they have earned in previous years, though less than the threshold for High Score