Annual Environmental Impact Report
Transparency is a core value at Lumber New Orleans. This report details our environmental impact for 2025, compares our performance to industry benchmarks, and outlines our sustainability goals for the years ahead.
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Our Impact This Year
Every board foot of reclaimed lumber we process represents resources saved, carbon preserved, and waste prevented. Here are our key metrics for 2025.
Lumber Diverted from Landfill
Total volume of reclaimed lumber we processed and returned to productive use in 2025, preventing it from entering the waste stream.
CO2 Sequestered
Carbon dioxide that remains locked in reclaimed wood rather than being released through decomposition or incineration. Each board foot of wood stores approximately 5.1 lbs of CO2.
Trees Saved
The estimated number of mature trees that would need to be harvested to produce an equivalent volume of new lumber. Based on an average yield of 127 board feet per tree.
Water Conserved
Water that was not consumed in the logging, transport, and milling of new timber. Producing one board foot of new lumber requires approximately 29 gallons of water across its supply chain.
Energy Saved
The difference in energy consumption between processing reclaimed lumber and manufacturing new lumber from standing timber. Reclaimed processing uses approximately 75% less energy.
Landfill Waste Avoided
The weight of construction and demolition debris diverted from Louisiana landfills. Wood waste accounts for roughly 20-30% of all C&D debris in the United States.
Year-Over-Year Comparison
Tracking our growth and environmental impact improvements from 2024 to 2025. Every metric shows meaningful improvement as we expand our salvage network and processing capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Feet Reclaimed | 412,000 | 487,000 | +18.2% |
| CO2 Sequestered (metric tons) | 1,053 | 1,245 | +18.2% |
| Trees Saved | 3,244 | 3,820 | +17.8% |
| Water Conserved (million gal) | 11.9 | 14.2 | +19.3% |
| Energy Saved (MWh) | 1,845 | 2,180 | +18.2% |
| Landfill Diversion (tons) | 264 | 312 | +18.2% |
| Projects Supplied | 43 | 52 | +20.9% |
| Salvage Sources | 28 | 34 | +21.4% |
Methodology
Our environmental impact calculations follow established methodologies from the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, the Environmental Protection Agency, and peer-reviewed lifecycle assessment studies published in the Journal of Cleaner Production and Forest Products Journal.
Board feet reclaimed: Measured directly at our facility using calibrated measuring tools. Every piece that enters our yard is measured, graded, and logged in our inventory system. The total represents material that was processed and sold or donated for reuse -- not raw salvage volume, which is higher.
CO2 sequestration: Calculated using the EPA standard of approximately 5.1 lbs of CO2 stored per board foot of wood. This represents carbon that was absorbed during the tree's growth and remains locked in the wood as long as it is in service. If the same wood were landfilled or burned, this carbon would be released.
Trees saved: Based on average yield data from the USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis program. An average mature Southern pine yields approximately 127 board feet of usable lumber. Hardwood yields are lower; we use a blended average based on our species mix.
Water and energy: Derived from lifecycle assessment data comparing the full supply chain of new lumber (forest management, harvesting, transport, sawmilling, drying, planing) to our reclaimed process (salvage, transport, de-nailing, kiln-drying, milling). Our calculations use conservative estimates and include our own facility energy and water consumption.
Third-Party Verification
We believe environmental claims should be verifiable, not just aspirational. Beginning with our 2024 report, our annual impact data undergoes independent review by Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) auditors who verify our volume records, calculation methodology, and facility energy data.
Our facility operations are reviewed against the criteria of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain of Custody standard, which provides an independent framework for tracking wood products from source to customer. While reclaimed lumber does not fit neatly into traditional forestry certification programs, we apply the same rigor to tracking provenance and processing.
Customers requiring environmental impact documentation for LEED v4.1, WELL, Living Building Challenge, or other green building certifications can request a project-specific environmental impact statement. These statements detail the exact volume, species, source, and calculated environmental benefits of the reclaimed material in your specific project, signed and stamped by our sustainability officer.
Certifications & Memberships
- •U.S. Green Building Council member
- •Louisiana Green Building Council member
- •Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) member
- •EPA WasteWise partner
Industry Benchmark Comparison
Our performance compared to industry averages for construction and demolition wood recycling operations.
Landfill Diversion Rate
Percentage of demolition wood that is reclaimed and reused rather than sent to landfill. The industry average includes all C&D recyclers, most of whom chip wood for mulch or biofuel rather than preserving it as dimensional lumber.
Energy Efficiency (BTU/BF)
Energy consumed per board foot of finished lumber. Our lower figure reflects the elimination of harvesting, primary transport, and initial sawmill processing. Our energy use is primarily kiln operation and finish milling.
Water Usage (gal/BF)
Water consumed per board foot produced. New lumber production requires water for tree growth, log debarking, sawmill cooling, and kiln humidification. Our process only requires kiln humidification and dust suppression.
Waste Factor
Percentage of raw material that becomes waste during processing. Our lower factor is achieved through careful hand-selection, precision de-nailing, and maximizing yield through custom milling to order rather than standard dimensions.
Sustainability Goals: 2026 - 2027
We are committed to continuous improvement. These goals are ambitious but achievable, and we will report our progress transparently in next year's report.
- ✓Reach 600,000 board feet of annual reclamation volume
- ✓Install solar panels on our kiln facility to offset 40% of energy use
- ✓Launch a closed-loop sawdust program -- all milling waste composted or used as animal bedding
- ✓Achieve zero non-recyclable waste from our processing facility
- ✓Partner with 5 additional demolition contractors for first-access salvage agreements
- ✓Target 750,000 board feet of annual reclamation
- ✓Achieve 100% renewable energy for all facility operations
- ✓Publish quarterly environmental impact reports (currently annual)
- ✓Develop a certified chain-of-custody tracking system for every board
- ✓Establish a reclaimed wood scholarship fund for Louisiana trade school students
- ✓Begin publishing species-specific carbon sequestration data for architects and LEED consultants
Your Project's Environmental Impact
When you choose reclaimed lumber from Lumber New Orleans, you become part of this impact. A typical residential project using 500 board feet of reclaimed heart pine saves the equivalent of 4 mature trees, keeps 2,550 lbs of CO2 locked in the wood, conserves 14,500 gallons of water, and diverts 320 lbs of waste from the landfill.
We can calculate the specific environmental impact of your project and provide a certificate documenting your contribution to sustainable building practices. Many of our customers display this certificate in their completed space -- it is a meaningful conversation starter and a tangible reminder that beautiful design and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive.
Build Sustainably With Reclaimed Lumber
Every project that uses reclaimed lumber contributes to a more sustainable construction industry. Talk to us about how reclaimed wood can meet your project goals while reducing your environmental footprint.