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New ‘American Hardwood Assured’ Platform Sets Benchmark

For Transparent, Deforestation-Free Timber Sourcing

• A state-level legality risk assessment
covering 37 hardwood-producing

states
• An online tool that combines this data
to generate due diligence statements
and geolocation files for each export
consignment

Bringing science into timber
A new assurance platform designed source. These statements can be shared specification
to bring unprecedented transparency alongside shipping documentation or AHA also points to the future of material

to the global timber trade has been accessed via QR code, giving downstream verification. Emerging plant chemistry
launched by the American Hardwood users, from joinery manufacturers to and isotope testing technologies mean
Export Council (AHEC). architects, confidence in the provenance timber can increasingly be traced back
American Hardwood Assured (AHA) of the material they specify. to its region of origin. The programme is
provides manufacturers, specifiers and developing a ‘Proof of Provenance’ system
designers with a clear, credible way to Designed for a complex supply that could eventually allow verification
verify that US hardwood products are both chain via simple lab testing or even handheld

legally sourced and deforestation-free. Unlike many timber systems, AHA has scanning devices.
At a time when environmental compliance been developed specifically for the
requirements are tightening globally, AHA realities of the US hardwood sector, where Supporting sustainable design
offers a practical solution for businesses timber is sourced from millions of small, For the design community, the implications
navigating complex regulations such as privately owned forests. This complexity are significant. US hardwood forests
the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has historically made shipment-level have grown by more than 130 percent
and the US Lacey Act. verification difficult. AHA overcomes over the past 70 years, and are
By combining independent risk assessment this by using jurisdiction-based risk largely managed through low-intensity
with cutting-edge technology, the platform assessments rather than attempting to harvesting that supports long-term

enables exporters to generate standardised, track individual trees or sites. forest health.
consignment-specific assurance statements By providing a scalable, evidence-
quickly and efficiently. The platform integrates three core based assurance system, AHA enables
Each AHA Statement is uniquely linked elements: architects and designers to specify
to an individual shipment and includes • A county-level deforestation risk hardwoods with greater confidence
robust data confirming negligible risk assessment using satellite data and supporting both regulatory compliance
of illegal harvesting or deforestation at AI analysis and sustainable material choices.