Our Mission: Close the Loop on Lumber
We exist to prove that the lumber industry can be circular, carbon-negative, and rooted in community — without sacrificing quality or affordability.
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A Gulf South Where No Usable Lumber Ever Reaches a Landfill
We envision a regional construction economy where reclaimed lumber is the default, not the exception. Where demolition contractors automatically call a reclaimer before a dumpster. Where architects specify salvaged wood not as a novelty, but because it is the superior material in quality, character, and environmental performance.
This is not a utopian fantasy. The infrastructure for a circular lumber economy already exists in pieces — we are building the missing links. Lumber New Orleans is part of a growing national network of reclaimers, and our goal is to make reclamation the standard in the Gulf South within the next decade.
600 Million Tons of Construction Waste. Every Year.
The EPA estimates that the United States generates over 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris annually — more than twice the volume of municipal solid waste. Wood accounts for roughly 20-30% of that total, making it one of the single largest categories of material sent to landfills.
When wood decomposes in a landfill, it releases methane — a greenhouse gas 84 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period. Meanwhile, the lumber industry harvests over 13 billion board feet of softwood per year in the US alone, driving deforestation and habitat loss.
The math is simple: there is more than enough usable wood already in circulation to dramatically reduce both landfill waste and demand for virgin timber. It just needs to be intercepted, processed, and redistributed. That is exactly what we do.
Tons of C&D waste generated in the US annually
Share of demolition waste that is wood
Methane potency vs. CO₂ over 20 years
Board feet of softwood harvested annually in the US
Six Principles, No Compromises
These values are not aspirational — they are operational. Every decision at Lumber New Orleans is filtered through these six commitments.
Circularity Over Extraction
The traditional lumber supply chain is linear: harvest, use, demolish, landfill. We close the loop. Every board we reclaim re-enters the construction cycle, reducing the need for virgin timber and keeping embodied carbon locked in wood for decades longer.
Zero Waste as Standard
We do not accept the idea that any part of a reclaimed board is "waste." Dimensional lumber is resold. Offcuts go to woodworkers for small projects. Sawdust is composted or used as animal bedding. Even metal fasteners are separated and recycled. Our diversion rate from landfill is over 99%.
Preservation of Heritage
When a building is demolished, its story does not have to end. The old-growth heart pine in a Victorian shotgun house absorbed the sounds of a century of life. We believe that story has value — not just ecological value, but cultural and emotional value. Our lumber carries history forward.
Transparency & Education
We believe every buyer deserves to know where their wood comes from, how it was processed, and what species it is. We grade every board, identify its provenance when possible, and educate our customers on the environmental impact of their purchase.
Fair Commerce
We pay fair prices to sellers — whether they are demolition contractors with truckloads or homeowners with a few boards from a renovation. On the selling side, we price competitively so that choosing reclaimed lumber is economically viable, not just an environmental luxury.
Community Investment
We hire from the neighborhoods where we operate, prioritize local suppliers, and donate usable lumber scraps to community workshop programs. When New Orleans thrives, we thrive. Our success is inseparable from the health of the communities around us.
Measurable Goals, Real Accountability
Carbon-Negative Operations by Design
Every board foot of lumber we reclaim keeps approximately 5.4 lbs of CO₂ sequestered in the wood and prevents an additional 1.1 lbs of landfill methane emissions. Our total carbon offset far exceeds the emissions generated by our trucks, equipment, and facility. We track this quarterly and publish the results.
99%+ Landfill Diversion Rate
We weigh incoming material and track outgoing product, offcuts, sawdust, and metal. Our current diversion rate exceeds 99%. The remaining fraction is non-wood contamination (paint chips, concrete dust) that must be disposed of responsibly. We are working to close even that small gap.
Fuel Efficiency Standards for Fleet
Our delivery trucks are maintained to strict fuel-efficiency standards, and we optimize routes to minimize empty miles. When possible, we coordinate pickups and deliveries on the same trip. Our long-term goal is to transition to electric or biodiesel vehicles as the technology matures for heavy loads.
Local Sourcing Priority
Over 90% of our inventory is sourced from within a 100-mile radius of New Orleans. This minimizes transportation emissions, supports the local economy, and ensures that the wood we sell has a genuine connection to the region's architectural heritage.
From Principle to Practice
A mission only matters if it changes behavior. Here is how ours shows up in our daily operations.
Every Demolition Is an Opportunity
We maintain relationships with demolition contractors, renovation crews, and municipal agencies across the Gulf South. When a structure is slated for demolition, we assess the lumber before the wrecking ball swings.
Fair Purchase, Fast Pickup
We quote fair prices and schedule pickups within days, not weeks. For contractors on tight timelines, speed matters. We never let usable lumber go to landfill because of logistics delays.
Process to Professional Standards
Reclaimed lumber is only useful if it meets building standards. We de-nail, kiln-dry, plane, and grade every board. Our processing is not cosmetic — it is structural. Builders can rely on our material.
Sell with Full Transparency
Every piece in our yard is graded, measured, and species-identified. When we know the provenance — the building it came from, the era it was built — we share that information. Our customers are buying a story as much as a board.
Track, Measure, Improve
We log every board foot in and every board foot out. We track our carbon offset, our diversion rate, and our fuel consumption. Numbers keep us honest, and publishing them keeps us accountable.
Industry Partnerships
We do not operate in isolation. Our mission is strengthened by partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to sustainability, preservation, and responsible resource management.
Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA)
As members of the BMRA, we participate in the national network of building material reclaimers. This membership gives us access to best practices in deconstruction, processing standards, and market intelligence. We adhere to BMRA quality and environmental guidelines in all our operations.
US Green Building Council (USGBC)
Our reclaimed lumber products contribute to LEED certification credits for projects pursuing green building standards. We provide the documentation builders need to claim MR (Materials & Resources) credits for reused and recycled content. Several LEED-certified projects in the Gulf South have used our materials.
Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans
We collaborate with the PRC on salvage operations involving historically significant structures. When demolition of a contributing structure is unavoidable, we work with PRC to document the building and ensure that the most significant architectural elements are preserved for reuse in restoration projects.
Louisiana Forestry Association
Our partnership with the LFA positions reclaimed lumber as a complement to — not a competitor of — sustainable forestry. We participate in their educational programs and advocate for policies that recognize the carbon value of keeping wood in use longer through reclamation.
Habitat for Humanity Greater New Orleans
Beyond material donations, we serve on the construction materials advisory committee for Habitat GNOHA. We help identify opportunities to incorporate reclaimed materials into affordable housing without compromising structural standards or increasing construction complexity.
Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association
We participate in GSREIA initiatives focused on circular economy practices in the construction sector. Our operation serves as a case study for how material reclamation can be both environmentally beneficial and economically viable in the Gulf South region.
Annual Goals & Measurable Targets
We publish our annual goals publicly because accountability matters. Here is what we are working toward in 2026, with specific metrics so our progress can be measured.
How You Can Help
You do not need to be in the lumber business to support the circular economy for wood. Here are concrete ways that customers, professionals, and community members can contribute.
Choose Reclaimed for Your Next Project
The most impactful thing you can do is specify reclaimed lumber for your construction, renovation, or furniture project. Every board foot of reclaimed wood purchased is a board foot that did not come from a freshly felled tree and did not end up in a landfill. Talk to your contractor or designer about incorporating reclaimed materials.
Report Demolition Sites
If you see a building being demolished or a renovation generating lumber waste, let us know. A quick phone call or email with the address and a description of what is being discarded can help us intercept usable wood before it reaches the dumpster. Many of our best acquisitions come from community tips.
Sell Us Your Lumber
Have reclaimed, surplus, or used lumber from a project? Do not throw it away. Contact us for a free quote. We buy everything from a few hundred board feet of leftover flooring to full truckloads from commercial demolitions. Fair prices, fast pickup, and payment on the spot.
Request Reclaimed from Your Contractor
If you are hiring a contractor for a renovation, ask them to source reclaimed materials from us. Many contractors are not aware that reclaimed lumber is available, graded, and ready to use. Your request creates demand, which drives the reclamation market forward.
Spread the Word
Tell your friends, family, and colleagues about reclaimed lumber. Share photos of your reclaimed wood project on social media. Leave us a review. Word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool for a local business, and every conversation about reclaimed wood normalizes it as a mainstream building material.
Donate Architectural Salvage
If you have old doors, hardware, windows, or other architectural elements that you do not need, donate them rather than discarding them. We accept donations of salvageable materials and can provide documentation for potential tax deductions. These items find new homes through our sales and our nonprofit partnerships.
Share Our Mission? Let's Work Together.
Whether you're a builder looking for sustainable materials, a contractor with lumber to sell, or an organization interested in partnering — we want to hear from you.