Sustainability Report
Transparency is core to our mission. Here is our full environmental impact report, documenting what we have achieved and where we are headed.
2025 in Review
2025 was a milestone year for Lumber Minneapolis. We processed 362,000 board feet of reclaimed lumber — a 11% increase over 2024 — and achieved a 95% waste diversion rate, the highest in our company's history. Our operations prevented an estimated 847 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, equivalent to taking 183 passenger vehicles off the road for a full year.
We deconstructed 28 structures across Minnesota and the upper Midwest, including a 140-year-old grain elevator in Red Wing, a turn-of-the-century warehouse in Northeast Minneapolis, and four dairy barns in central Minnesota. These projects yielded exceptional old-growth timber — primarily white oak, Douglas fir, and heart pine — that would have been destroyed and landfilled through conventional demolition.
Our community impact grew as well. We now employ 14 full-time and 38 seasonal workers, served over 320 customers, and contributed an estimated $1.2 million in economic activity to the Twin Cities region. We hosted 12 community events, including yard tours, woodworking workshops for underserved youth, and sustainability talks at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Looking forward, our 2026 priorities center on achieving carbon-neutral operations through fleet electrification and solar power installation, expanding our salvage network into Wisconsin and Iowa, and launching a contractor certification program for reclaimed lumber installation. We remain committed to transparent, third-party-verified reporting and to setting the standard for sustainability in the reclaimed lumber industry.
2025 Environmental Impact at a Glance
Every board we salvage, every structure we deconstruct, and every customer who chooses reclaimed over new contributes to these numbers. This is the collective impact of our work and your choices.
Lumber Diverted from Landfills
Total weight of wood we rescued from demolition waste streams and repurposed as building material.
CO2 Emissions Prevented
Carbon dioxide that would have been released through decomposition, incineration, or new timber harvesting.
Trees Preserved
Equivalent number of mature trees that were not harvested because customers chose reclaimed lumber.
Reclaimed Wood Processed
Total board feet of salvaged lumber inspected, de-nailed, graded, and made available for new projects.
Waste Diversion Rate
Percentage of material from our deconstruction projects that was recycled, repurposed, or composted.
Buildings Deconstructed
Historic barns, warehouses, and buildings carefully disassembled to salvage maximum reusable material.
How We Measure Our Carbon Impact
Our carbon accounting follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol framework. We measure three categories of impact: emissions avoided by not harvesting new timber, carbon stored in reclaimed wood products, and operational emissions from our processing and transportation.
Avoided Emissions
612 tons
CO2 that was never released because our customers chose reclaimed lumber instead of newly harvested timber.
Carbon Stored
185 tons
Carbon that remains sequestered in reclaimed wood products instead of being released through decomposition or burning.
Net Impact
-797 tons
Our net carbon balance after subtracting operational emissions (50 tons) from avoided emissions and stored carbon.
Carbon Accounting in Detail
Scope 1: Direct Operational Emissions
Scope 1 covers emissions from sources we own or control directly. This includes fuel combustion in our fleet of delivery trucks and forklifts (38.2 tons CO2), natural gas used to heat our processing facility and kiln (8.4 tons CO2), and generator fuel for off-site deconstruction projects (3.4 tons CO2). Total Scope 1 emissions in 2025: 50.0 tons CO2.
Scope 2: Indirect Energy Emissions
Scope 2 covers emissions from purchased electricity. Our Roseville facility consumed approximately 142,000 kWh in 2025, powering our sawmill, planer, dust collection system, metal detectors, kiln controls, lighting, and office operations. Using Xcel Energy's published emission factor of 0.37 kg CO2 per kWh for the Minnesota grid, our Scope 2 emissions totaled 52.5 tons CO2. We purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset 100% of our electricity consumption, bringing our net Scope 2 to zero.
Scope 3: Value Chain Emissions
Scope 3 accounts for indirect emissions across our value chain. This includes customer transportation to our yard (estimated 12 tons CO2 based on average trip distance and vehicle type), upstream supplier transportation for materials like saw blades and packaging (estimated 4 tons CO2), and employee commuting (estimated 8 tons CO2). Total estimated Scope 3: 24 tons CO2. We are working to improve the precision of these estimates through supplier surveys and customer data collection.
Avoided Emissions Calculation
Avoided emissions represent the CO2 that would have been produced if our customers had purchased new lumber instead of reclaimed. We calculate this using USDA Forest Products Laboratory data on the carbon cost of harvesting, transporting, and milling new timber. The average emission factor for new softwood lumber is 1.69 kg CO2 per board foot; for hardwood, 1.93 kg CO2 per board foot. Applied to our 362,000 board feet of mixed species processed in 2025, the total avoided emissions are 612 tons CO2.
Year-Over-Year Growth
Each year, we have expanded our salvage operations and increased our positive environmental impact. The trajectory is clear: more wood rescued, more carbon saved, less waste. The table below includes data from 2022 through 2025, showing consistent growth across every metric.
| Year | Lumber Processed | CO2 Prevented | Trees Saved | Diversion Rate | Water Saved | Buildings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 215K bf | 478 tons | 2,400 | 89% | 1.8M gal | 18 |
| 2023 | 280K bf | 612 tons | 3,100 | 92% | 2.3M gal | 22 |
| 2024 | 325K bf | 735 tons | 3,600 | 93% | 2.7M gal | 25 |
| 2025 | 362K bf | 847 tons | 4,200 | 95% | 3.0M gal | 28 |
Lumber Growth (2022-2025)
Board feet processed grew from 215K to 362K over three years.
CO2 Impact Growth
Carbon emissions prevented grew from 478 to 847 tons annually.
Diversion Rate Improvement
Waste diversion improved from 89% to 95% through process refinement.
Where Does the Material Go?
When we deconstruct a building or process salvaged lumber, we track every piece. Here is how we diverted 95% of incoming material from the landfill in 2025.
Resold as Lumber
Premium boards, beams, flooring, and siding sold directly to customers.
Custom Fabrication
Material used in our custom furniture, mantels, and architectural pieces.
Biomass & Compost
Sawdust, chips, and unusable scraps converted to mulch or biomass fuel.
Metal Recycling
Nails, brackets, and hardware extracted during processing and recycled.
Waste Management in Detail
Our goal is to find a productive use for every ounce of material that enters our facility. Here is how we handle the byproducts of reclaimed lumber processing.
Sawdust & Shavings
Our planer, jointer, and saws generate approximately 18 tons of sawdust and shavings annually. Rather than landfilling this material, we partner with three local farms that use it as animal bedding and composting feedstock. Clean hardwood sawdust is also supplied to a local smoking and barbecue supplier who packages it for culinary use.
Wood Chips & Scrap
Pieces too short, too damaged, or too irregular for sale are chipped on-site. Wood chips are used as landscape mulch by a Twin Cities landscaping company, as biomass fuel by a local heating cooperative, and as trail surfacing material donated to Ramsey County parks. In 2025, we diverted 42 tons of wood scrap through these channels.
Metal & Hardware
The de-nailing process extracts approximately 2.8 tons of ferrous metal per year — nails, screws, bolts, brackets, and embedded hardware. All extracted metal is collected, sorted, and sold to a local scrap metal recycler. Some architecturally significant hardware (hand-forged hinges, iron straps) is cleaned and resold as salvaged building hardware.
Transportation Emissions & Efficiency
Transportation is our largest source of direct emissions. We are actively working to reduce our footprint through route optimization, load consolidation, and fleet upgrades.
Fleet Profile
Efficiency Initiatives
Route Optimization: We use route planning software to consolidate deliveries and minimize empty miles. Average delivery distance decreased 12% in 2025.
Load Consolidation: We batch deliveries by geography, scheduling multiple drops per trip. Our average load utilization increased from 72% to 84% capacity.
Biodiesel Transition: Two of our three flatbeds now run B20 biodiesel (20% biodiesel blend), reducing per-mile emissions by approximately 15%.
2026 Target: Transition remaining flatbed to B20, replace one pickup with an electric vehicle, and install a Level 2 EV charger at our facility.
Sustainable Supply Chain
Our environmental impact extends beyond our own operations. We work with partners who share our commitment to sustainability and responsible material handling.
Twin Cities Deconstruction Cooperative
Deconstruction partner for residential and light commercial projects across the metro.
Minnesota Barn Preservation Alliance
Referral network connecting us with farmers and property owners who have salvageable agricultural structures.
Midwest Timber Salvage
Regional partner supplying large-scale industrial and commercial timbers from Wisconsin and Iowa.
Hennepin County Green Disposal Program
County partnership routing reusable lumber from permitted demolitions to our processing facility.
ReUse Minnesota
Statewide nonprofit partner promoting building material reuse and connecting property owners with salvage operators.
Northern Kiln Services
Third-party kiln-drying facility providing overflow capacity and independent moisture content verification.
Local Sourcing Commitment
85% of our reclaimed lumber is sourced within a 150-mile radius of our Roseville facility. This local focus reduces transportation emissions, supports the regional economy, and ensures that the historical character of Minnesota's built heritage is preserved in Minnesota projects. When we do source beyond our primary radius, we prioritize loads that can backhaul with existing freight routes to minimize empty miles.
Community Impact
Sustainability is not just environmental — it is social and economic. Here is how Lumber Minneapolis contributes to the Twin Cities community.
Full-Time Jobs
Direct employment in salvage, processing, milling, sales, and delivery operations.
Seasonal & Contract Workers
Deconstruction crew members, truck drivers, and specialized tradespeople engaged during peak seasons.
Local Business Partnerships
Ongoing contracts with local trucking companies, metal recyclers, sawblade sharpening services, and equipment suppliers.
Local Economic Activity
Estimated annual contribution to the Twin Cities economy through payroll, vendor payments, and customer spending.
Customers Served (2025)
Homeowners, contractors, designers, and commercial clients who purchased reclaimed lumber from our yard this year.
Community Events
Yard tours, woodworking workshops, sustainability talks, and partnerships with local schools and trade programs.
Education & Training
We partner with Minneapolis Community & Technical College and Saint Paul College to host hands-on workshops for students in construction technology and sustainable building programs. In 2025, 48 students participated in our deconstruction and milling practicum sessions. We also provide apprenticeship-style training for new hires, teaching the specialized skills of wood identification, de-nailing, grading, and reclaimed lumber milling.
Donations & Community Projects
In 2025, we donated reclaimed lumber (valued at over $18,000) to six community projects, including a Habitat for Humanity build in North Minneapolis, a community garden pergola in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul, and benches for the Midtown Greenway. We also provide discounted material to registered nonprofits and community organizations working on public spaces.
How We Compare
We benchmark our performance against published industry averages for the construction material reuse sector. Here is how Lumber Minneapolis stacks up.
| Metric | Lumber Minneapolis | Industry Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Diversion Rate | 95% | 70-75% | Industry average for construction and demolition material recovery. |
| De-Nailing Quality | 99.5% | 95% | Percentage of metal detected and removed before milling. |
| Material Yield (per structure) | 68% | 45-55% | Percentage of total building material recovered as usable product. |
| Carbon Offset per BF Sold | 5.1 lbs CO2 | 3.5-4.0 lbs | Higher due to local sourcing and efficient kiln operations. |
| Transportation Radius | 150 mi avg | 250+ mi | Shorter distances reduce fuel consumption and delivery emissions. |
| Customer Satisfaction | 4.9/5.0 | 4.2/5.0 | Based on verified post-purchase customer surveys. |
Our Sustainability Commitments
We hold ourselves accountable to concrete, measurable goals. Here is what we are working toward and our progress on each commitment.
Carbon-Neutral Operations
Transition all transportation fleet vehicles to biodiesel or electric. Install solar panels on our Minneapolis processing facility. Achieve net-zero operational carbon emissions.
500K Board Feet Annually
Scale our reclaimed lumber processing capacity to 500,000 board feet per year by expanding our salvage network and adding a second processing line.
Zero-Waste Facility
Reach 99% waste diversion at our processing facility. Sawdust and wood chips will be converted to biomass fuel or composted. All packaging materials will be recyclable or compostable.
Regional Reclaimed Network
Establish partnerships with five additional salvage operations across the upper Midwest to create a regional reclaimed lumber supply chain, reducing transportation distances and emissions.
2026 Specific Targets
Operations
- Install 48kW rooftop solar array on processing facility
- Replace one gasoline pickup truck with an electric vehicle
- Transition third flatbed to B20 biodiesel
- Reduce total Scope 1 emissions by 20%
- Achieve 96% waste diversion rate
Growth & Outreach
- Process 420,000 board feet of reclaimed lumber
- Deconstruct 35 structures
- Launch contractor certification program for reclaimed lumber installation
- Expand salvage partnerships into Wisconsin and Iowa
- Host 18 community events, including a public open-house day
Third-Party Verification & Auditing
We believe in earning trust through transparent, independently verified data. Our sustainability metrics are subject to the following verification processes:
Quarterly Internal Audits
Every quarter, our operations manager conducts a full audit of inventory records, waste tracking logs, and processing data. Discrepancies are investigated and corrected. These internal audits form the basis of our annual report data.
Annual Third-Party Review
We engage an independent environmental consulting firm to review our carbon accounting methodology, verify emission factors, and spot-check our data against physical inventory records. The reviewer's statement is available upon request.
Waste Diversion Tracking
All outbound material — whether sold, donated, composted, or recycled — is weighed and documented. We maintain chain-of-custody records showing the destination of every major material stream, confirmed by receiving-party acknowledgments.
LEED Project Documentation
For LEED-certified projects, we provide documentation that meets USGBC requirements for MR Credit 3 (Materials Reuse), including source identification, chain-of-custody records, and material cost documentation. Our records have supported successful LEED certification on 14 projects to date.
How We Calculate Our Impact
Our environmental impact calculations follow the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard and use conversion factors from the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. Carbon storage estimates are based on the USDA Forest Products Laboratory data for specific wood species and densities.
Tree equivalency calculations use the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator methodology, which estimates that a medium-growth coniferous tree sequesters approximately 60 pounds of CO2 per year. Our “trees saved” metric represents the number of mature trees that would need to be harvested to produce an equivalent volume of new lumber.
Waste diversion rates are calculated by weight, comparing total incoming material to material sent to landfill. All data is tracked in our internal inventory management system and verified through quarterly audits. We are committed to transparent, conservative estimates and welcome third-party verification.
Water savings are estimated using EPA data on the water intensity of timber harvesting and processing. The production of new lumber consumes approximately 8.3 gallons of water per board foot when accounting for nursery irrigation, forest road maintenance, sawmill cooling, and kiln operation. Our reclaimed lumber processing uses approximately 0.2 gallons per board foot (primarily for kiln steam and dust suppression), yielding a net savings of approximately 8.1 gallons per board foot.
Environmental Impact Certificates
Every order over 100 board feet comes with a complimentary Environmental Impact Certificate — a document that quantifies the specific environmental benefit of your purchase.
What it includes: CO2 emissions prevented, trees preserved, landfill waste diverted, water saved, and the methodology used to calculate each figure.
Who uses them: LEED project managers, corporate sustainability officers, homeowners applying for green building tax credits, and anyone who wants to document their environmental choices.
Format: Digital PDF delivered via email, with a printable version suitable for framing. Certificates include your project name, date, and the specific species and quantities purchased.
Sample Certificate Data
How You Can Help
Every customer and community member plays a role in the reclaimed lumber ecosystem. Here are concrete actions you can take to amplify your environmental impact.
Choose Reclaimed First
Before buying new lumber, check if reclaimed material is available in the species and size you need. Even substituting reclaimed wood for part of your project makes a measurable difference.
Sell Your Salvageable Wood
Renovating or tearing down a structure? Contact us before sending wood to the landfill. We buy quality used lumber and can evaluate your material on-site.
Specify Reclaimed in Your Projects
Architects, designers, and builders: include reclaimed lumber as a specification option in your project documents. Normalizing reclaimed materials creates sustained demand.
Spread the Word
Tell friends, colleagues, and social networks about the quality and environmental benefits of reclaimed lumber. Many people do not realize how accessible and beautiful it is.
Support Deconstruction over Demolition
If you own property scheduled for removal, advocate for deconstruction rather than machine demolition. It recovers more material, creates local jobs, and keeps usable wood out of landfills.
Visit Our Yard
Come see the material in person. Understanding where reclaimed wood comes from and how it is processed makes you a more informed buyer and advocate for sustainable building.
Calculate Your Own Impact
See exactly how much CO2 you can save by choosing reclaimed lumber for your next project.