Sustainability
Reclaimed lumber is not a marketing angle for us. It is the entire reason this company exists. Every board we salvage is a measurable step toward less waste, lower emissions, and healthier forests.
Construction Waste Is One of the Biggest Environmental Problems Nobody Talks About
In the United States, construction and demolition debris accounts for over 600 million tons of waste generated annually — more than double the amount of municipal solid waste. A significant portion of that debris is wood: dimensional lumber, beams, flooring, and structural timber that is perfectly reusable but gets crushed, hauled, and buried.
Meanwhile, global demand for new lumber continues to drive deforestation. The timber industry harvests over 15 billion trees per year worldwide. Forests that took centuries to grow are cut in hours. And the replacement plantations — monoculture tree farms planted in rows — provide a fraction of the biodiversity, carbon storage, and ecological function of the natural forests they replace.
Reclaimed lumber addresses both sides of this equation simultaneously. It diverts wood from landfills and reduces the demand that drives new harvesting. It is one of the highest-impact sustainability choices a builder can make — and it produces material that is often structurally superior to what it replaces.
Construction Waste in Context
To understand the scale of the problem — and the potential of reclaimed lumber as a solution — consider these industry-wide numbers from US and Minnesota sources.
of construction and demolition debris is generated annually in the United States — more than double the volume of municipal solid waste. Wood is one of the largest components of this waste stream.
of C&D debris was sent to landfills in the US in 2018, according to the EPA. The remainder was processed through recycling facilities, but a significant portion of recyclable wood was still lost.
are harvested globally each year. While managed forestry programs replace some of this volume, old-growth forests — the source of the densest, most valuable timber — are a finite and diminishing resource.
acres of forest are lost each year in the United States to development, agriculture, and timber harvesting. Reclaimed lumber reduces the demand pressure that drives this deforestation.
of construction and demolition waste annually, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Wood accounts for approximately 25-30% of this total — representing over 1.3 million tons of potentially salvageable timber per year.
of construction and demolition debris in Minnesota is currently recycled or diverted from landfills. That means the majority of salvageable wood is still being buried — representing an enormous untapped resource.
Sustainability by the Numbers
We measure everything. These figures represent our cumulative and annual environmental impact — tracked, verified, and available for inspection.
Lifetime CO₂ emissions prevented since founding
Total board feet salvaged since 2018
Equivalent trees preserved over our history
Landfill diversion rate from processing operations
Lower carbon footprint per BF vs. new lumber
Maximum sourcing radius — minimizing transport emissions
Trees harvested for our reclaimed inventory
LEED and green building projects supported
Metal recycled from de-nailing operations since founding
Sawdust diverted to farms for composting annually
CO₂ prevented per board foot of reclaimed lumber
Of wood dry weight is stored carbon
Annual US construction & demolition waste generated
Of US landfill volume is C&D debris
Our Annual Environmental Impact
We do not estimate our impact — we measure it. These numbers are based on our actual annual processing volume, verified sourcing data, and established carbon accounting methodologies.
Carbon Emissions Prevented
Every board foot of reclaimed lumber we sell prevents approximately 3.6 lbs of CO2 compared to harvesting, processing, and transporting new timber. Across our annual volume, that adds up to nearly two million pounds of carbon kept out of the atmosphere.
Lumber Diverted from Landfills
Each year, we recover over half a million board feet of usable lumber that was headed for disposal. Construction and demolition debris accounts for roughly 30% of all landfill volume in the U.S. — our work directly reduces that number.
Equivalent Trees Left Standing
Based on an average yield of 200 board feet per mature tree, our annual salvage volume is equivalent to leaving over 2,500 trees standing in the forest — trees that continue absorbing carbon, supporting ecosystems, and preventing erosion.
Total Material Utilization
Less than 5% of material that enters our yard ends up as true waste. Off-cuts go to small projects and craft bins, sawdust goes to farms for composting and animal bedding, metal is recycled, and even unusable wood scraps are chipped for mulch.
Year-Over-Year Environmental Impact
Sustainability is a trajectory, not a snapshot. Here is how our environmental impact has grown each year since founding.
| Year | Board Feet Salvaged | CO₂ Prevented | Trees Equiv. | Diversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 8,000 | 28,800 lbs | 40 | N/A |
| 2019 | 85,000 | 306,000 lbs | 425 | 92% |
| 2020 | 180,000 | 648,000 lbs | 900 | 94% |
| 2021 | 310,000 | 1.1M lbs | 1,550 | 96% |
| 2022 | 420,000 | 1.5M lbs | 2,100 | 97% |
| 2023 | 500,000 | 1.8M lbs | 2,500 | 98% |
| 2024 | 530,000 | 1.9M lbs | 2,650 | 98% |
| 2025 (proj.) | 600,000 | 2.16M lbs | 3,000 | 98%+ |
Reclaimed vs. New Lumber
The environmental case for reclaimed lumber is not close. On every meaningful metric, salvaged wood outperforms newly harvested timber.
| Category | Reclaimed Lumber | New Lumber | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 Emissions | ~0.5 lbs/BF | ~3.6 lbs/BF | 86% lower carbon footprint |
| Trees Harvested | 0 | 1 per ~200 BF | Zero harvest for reclaimed stock |
| Landfill Impact | Diverts waste | Generates waste | Net positive on landfill diversion |
| Grain Density | Old-growth tight grain | Plantation wide grain | Denser, more stable material |
| Embodied Energy | Processing only | Harvest + mill + kiln + transport | Fraction of total energy input |
| Chemical Treatment | None required | Often pressure-treated | Naturally seasoned over decades |
| Water Consumption | Minimal — cleaning only | ~5.4 gallons per board foot | 90%+ water savings |
| Transport Distance | Average 60 miles (local) | Average 500+ miles (national supply chain) | 80%+ shorter haul distance |
Water Savings from Reclaimed Lumber
Water consumption is an often-overlooked environmental cost of new lumber production. New lumber production requires significant water input at every stage: forest road maintenance, log washing, sawmill cooling, kiln operation, and dust suppression. Reclaimed lumber processing uses water only for surface cleaning — a fraction of the total. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory estimates that producing 1,000 board feet of new lumber requires approximately 5,400 gallons of water across the full production chain.
Our reclaimed lumber processing uses water only for surface cleaning of particularly dirty material — and many lots require no water at all. The water savings from choosing reclaimed over new lumber are dramatic and consistent.
Per Board Foot
~5.4 gallons saved per board foot vs. new lumber production
Annual Savings
~2.7 million gallons of water saved annually at our current volume
Water savings per board foot vs. new lumber
Energy Consumption: Reclaimed vs. New
New lumber production is energy-intensive at every stage. Reclaimed lumber skips the most energy-heavy steps entirely. Here is the full breakdown.
New Lumber Production
Reclaimed Lumber Processing
76% lower energy consumption per 1,000 board feet
Closing the Loop on Lumber
In a linear economy, trees are harvested, made into lumber, used once, and thrown away. In a circular economy, materials cycle back into productive use. Reclaimed lumber is the circular economy in its simplest, most tangible form.
Buildings Reach End of Life
Structures across Minnesota are demolished, renovated, or deconstructed every day. Without intervention, the lumber inside them goes to the landfill.
We Recover the Material
Through purchasing, partnerships with contractors, and our own deconstruction services, we intercept that lumber before it becomes waste.
Processing Restores Value
De-nailing, grading, and milling transform rough salvage into job-site-ready material — often at a quality level that exceeds new-growth lumber.
Builders Use Reclaimed Wood
Contractors, designers, and homeowners choose reclaimed lumber for its quality, character, and environmental benefit. It goes into new construction, renovations, and custom pieces.
Structures Serve for Decades More
The reclaimed wood lives on in its new role. When that structure eventually reaches its own end of life, the cycle can begin again — wood that was old-growth a century ago still has usable life ahead of it.
Forests Stay Standing
Every board foot of reclaimed wood that replaces a board foot of new lumber is one less tree harvested. Multiplied across an entire industry, this preserves forests, biodiversity, and carbon sinks.
The Carbon Math Behind Reclaimed Lumber
Wood is roughly 50% carbon by dry weight. A standard board foot of lumber contains approximately 1.5 lbs of sequestered carbon — carbon that was pulled from the atmosphere while the tree was growing. When that wood goes to a landfill, the carbon eventually re-enters the atmosphere as the wood decomposes, releasing CO2 and methane.
When we reclaim that wood and put it back into a building, the carbon stays locked in the wood for another generation. And because the reclaimed board displaces a new board that would have required harvesting, milling, kiln-drying, and transporting a fresh tree, the total carbon benefit is compounded.
Our calculations account for the full lifecycle: the diesel to transport salvaged wood to our yard, the electricity to run our processing equipment, and the fuel to deliver the finished product. Even with those operational emissions included, reclaimed lumber produces roughly 86% less CO2 per board foot than newly harvested lumber.
Our Carbon Accounting Methodology
We base our carbon calculations on data from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the EPA's Waste Reduction Model (WARM), and our own operational measurements. The methodology accounts for three components:
- 1.Avoided emissions: The CO₂ that would have been generated by harvesting, processing, kiln-drying, and transporting new lumber — approximately 3.6 lbs per board foot based on USDA data.
- 2.Operational emissions: The CO₂ generated by our own operations — transport from salvage sites, electricity for milling, fuel for delivery trucks — approximately 0.5 lbs per board foot based on our measured fuel and electricity consumption.
- 3.Landfill avoidance: The methane and CO₂ that would have been released as the wood decomposed in a landfill. Wood in anaerobic landfill conditions generates methane — a greenhouse gas 28-36 times more potent than CO₂ over a 100-year period.
The net benefit per board foot (approximately 3.1 lbs CO₂ avoided) is the avoided emissions minus our operational emissions. We round conservatively in all public claims.
Carbon Stored in Wood
Emissions Comparison
Based on USDA Forest Products Laboratory data and our operational measurements. Includes transport, processing energy, and equipment emissions.
Net Savings
Lower carbon footprint per board foot
Trees Saved, Forests Preserved
We calculate tree equivalence using the USDA estimate that a mature tree yields approximately 200 board feet of usable lumber. This is a conservative estimate that accounts for taper, bark loss, and milling waste.
At our current annual volume of 500,000+ board feet, we preserve the equivalent of 2,500+ mature trees per year. Since founding, our cumulative salvage of over 2 million board feet has preserved the equivalent of over 10,000 mature trees.
Each standing mature tree absorbs approximately 48 lbs of CO₂ per year, provides habitat for wildlife, prevents soil erosion, filters air and water, and contributes to local climate regulation. The ecosystem value of a standing tree extends far beyond its value as lumber.
Minnesota's forests cover approximately 17.4 million acres and store an estimated 830 million metric tons of carbon. Every tree that remains standing contributes to this carbon storage and to the ecological integrity of the state's forest ecosystems.
Equivalent trees preserved annually
Equivalent trees preserved since founding
CO₂ absorbed per standing tree per year
Acres of forest in Minnesota
Transportation Efficiency: The Local Advantage
One of the often-overlooked environmental benefits of locally sourced reclaimed lumber is the reduction in transportation emissions. The average piece of new lumber sold in the Twin Cities travels over 500 miles through the supply chain — from forest to sawmill, sawmill to distribution center, distribution center to retailer, and retailer to job site.
Our reclaimed lumber travels an average of 60 miles from salvage site to our Roseville yard, and then typically less than 30 miles from our yard to the customer's job site. That is an 80%+ reduction in transport distance — and a corresponding reduction in diesel consumption, road wear, and tailpipe emissions.
Our 150-mile sourcing radius is not arbitrary. It represents the maximum distance at which the carbon savings from reclaiming lumber are not significantly eroded by transport emissions. Beyond that radius, the diesel required to haul heavy timber begins to offset the environmental benefit. By staying local, we ensure that the net carbon math always works strongly in favor of reclaimed material.
Average distance from salvage site to our yard
Average supply chain distance for new lumber
Reduction in transport distance vs. new lumber
Sustainability Pledges We Actually Keep
These are not aspirational statements. These are operational commitments that we track, measure, and hold ourselves accountable to every year.
Local Sourcing Mandate
We source at least 95% of our reclaimed inventory from within 150 miles of Minneapolis. This minimizes transportation emissions and ensures the wood we sell carries genuine regional provenance. We track sourcing distance for every lot and report our average haul distance annually.
Environmental Impact Certificates
Every major order ships with an Environmental Impact Certificate documenting the specific environmental benefit of that purchase: estimated CO2 prevented, equivalent trees preserved, and landfill tonnage diverted. These certificates are designed to support LEED documentation, green building certifications, and sustainability reporting.
Zero-Landfill Operations
We are committed to sending zero material to landfills from our processing operations. Usable off-cuts are sold at discount for small projects. Sawdust goes to local farms. Metal is recycled. Wood that cannot be reused is chipped for landscaping mulch. Our current landfill diversion rate exceeds 98%.
Transparent Carbon Accounting
We calculate the carbon impact of our operations honestly, including the diesel our trucks burn, the electricity our shop consumes, and the emissions from our equipment. We offset these operational emissions against the dramatically larger carbon benefit of displacing new lumber production. We publish our numbers and invite scrutiny.
Community Education
We actively educate builders, architects, and the public about the benefits of reclaimed lumber through yard tours, builder workshops, and partnerships with local sustainability organizations. We believe the reclaimed lumber industry grows when people understand what they are buying and why it matters.
Continuous Improvement
Sustainability is not a destination. We track our metrics year over year and set improvement targets for material recovery rates, waste diversion, sourcing distances, and energy consumption. When we find a better way to do something, we implement it — even when the current method is already working.
Partner Organizations & Certifications
We work with leading sustainability organizations, government agencies, and industry groups to advance the reclaimed lumber movement and hold ourselves to the highest standards.
Minnesota Green Building Council
Member organization. We participate in educational events, contribute to policy discussions on construction waste reduction, and connect with architects and builders committed to sustainable construction.
US Green Building Council
Supporter and LEED documentation provider. Our Environmental Impact Certificates are formatted to support LEED credit applications for Materials and Resources, Regional Materials, and Construction Waste Management categories.
Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA)
Member. BMRA connects us with the national network of reclaimed building materials dealers, deconstruction contractors, and reuse advocates. We follow BMRA best practices for material handling and quality standards.
Hennepin County Environmental Services
Waste reduction partner. We work with the county to promote deconstruction as an alternative to demolition and to increase the diversion of construction and demolition debris from county landfills.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Waste reduction partner. We participate in MPCA programs that track and report construction waste diversion in Minnesota, contributing data that supports statewide waste reduction targets.
Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities
Material donation partner. We regularly donate below-grade reclaimed lumber to Habitat ReStore locations, supporting affordable housing while ensuring that usable material does not go to waste.
Future Sustainability Goals
We are not content with where we are. These are the targets we are working toward — each one designed to increase our positive impact and reduce our operational footprint.
750,000 BF/year by 2027
Expand processing capacity to recover 50% more material annually, preventing an estimated 2.7 million pounds of CO₂ emissions per year.
99% Landfill Diversion by 2026
Reduce the remaining 2% of non-diverted waste through research into thermal processing and partnerships with specialty recyclers for contaminated material.
Solar-Powered Shop by 2028
Install rooftop solar panels on our Roseville facility to offset the electricity consumed by our milling equipment, dust collection, and lighting. Target: 100% of shop electricity from on-site renewable generation.
Electric Delivery Vehicle by 2027
Add an electric flatbed truck to our delivery fleet for metro-area deliveries, reducing our diesel consumption and tailpipe emissions for last-mile logistics.
Digital Carbon Tracking Platform
Develop an online portal where customers can access their Environmental Impact Certificates, track their cumulative environmental benefit across multiple orders, and share verified sustainability data with project stakeholders.
Regional Reclaimed Lumber Network
Partner with salvage operations and processing facilities across the upper Midwest to create a coordinated network that maximizes timber recovery from demolition and renovation projects across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas.
How You Can Maximize Your Environmental Impact
Choosing reclaimed lumber is a powerful sustainability decision. Here are additional ways you can amplify that impact through your purchasing decisions and professional practice.
Specify Reclaimed in Your Project Plans
The most impactful thing you can do is specify reclaimed lumber in your project documents from the start. When architects and builders include reclaimed materials in their specifications, it creates demand that drives more salvage operations and keeps more wood out of landfills.
Choose Local Sources
The carbon benefit of reclaimed lumber is maximized when transport distances are short. By choosing a local reclaimed lumber supplier like Lumber Minneapolis, you minimize the diesel emissions associated with shipping material across the country. Our 150-mile sourcing radius means your lumber did not travel far to get to you.
Request Environmental Impact Certificates
Ask for documentation. Our Environmental Impact Certificates quantify the specific CO₂ prevented, trees preserved, and waste diverted by your purchase. Use these numbers in your marketing materials, LEED applications, and sustainability reports. The more visibility these numbers get, the more demand they create for reclaimed materials.
Sell Your Used Lumber Instead of Dumping It
If you have a renovation or demolition project that will generate used lumber, contact us before calling a dumpster company. We buy usable reclaimed wood at fair prices. What looks like demolition waste to you may be valuable building material to the next project.
Advocate for Deconstruction Over Demolition
If you are a property owner planning to take down a structure, explore deconstruction as an alternative to mechanical demolition. Deconstruction recovers 60-80% more usable lumber, and in many cases, the value of the recovered material offsets a significant portion of the deconstruction cost.
Educate Your Clients and Colleagues
If you are an architect, designer, or builder, help your clients understand the benefits of reclaimed lumber — not just the environmental story, but the quality and aesthetic advantages. The reclaimed lumber industry grows when professionals advocate for it in their projects.
Supporting LEED and Green Certifications
Reclaimed lumber can contribute to multiple LEED credit categories, including Materials and Resources (MR), Innovation in Design (ID), and Regional Priority credits. Our Environmental Impact Certificates provide the documentation that project teams need to substantiate these credits.
We have supplied reclaimed materials to projects pursuing LEED Gold and Platinum certification, Net Zero Carbon buildings, and Living Building Challenge candidates. Our team understands the documentation requirements and can provide chain-of-custody data, material sourcing distances, and recycled content calculations formatted for your certification application.
LEED MR Credit: Building Product Reuse
Reclaimed lumber directly qualifies as reused material, contributing to credit thresholds for salvaged, refurbished, or reused products.
LEED MR Credit: Regional Materials
Our 150-mile sourcing radius means our reclaimed lumber qualifies as a regional material, supporting local economy credits.
LEED MR Credit: Construction Waste Management
Using reclaimed lumber diverts material from landfills, directly supporting waste management and diversion rate targets.
Carbon Offset Documentation
Our Environmental Impact Certificates quantify CO2 reduction per order — supporting carbon accounting for Net Zero and carbon-neutral project goals.
Build Something That Matters — For the Planet and Your Project
Every reclaimed board you use is a vote for a better way to build. Contact us to discuss your project and see exactly how much environmental impact your next build can make.