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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Independent Stave Company Earns Certification to Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standards
COLUMBIA, MO. (March 9 2022) – On February 25, 2022, Independent Stave Company’s domestic stave mills and cooperages achieved certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI). Moving forward, all American oak barrels manufactured domestically will be certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Fiber Sourcing Standard.
In crafting premium oak barrels, Independent Stave Company is dedicated to ensuring healthy, productive forests that will continue for generations to come. They are committed to only using oak that has achieved a sustainable certification. “Achieving this certification from SFI is a big step in our efforts to become a more sustainable cooperage,” said Brad Boswell, Independent Stave Company CEO and fourth generation cooper. “We believe education and outreach through land and process certification is one of the most effective and manageable solutions to achieve sustainability.”
The company’s Sustainability Manager, Dominic Stelzer, oversaw the processes required for Independent Stave Company to attain certification to SFI. These requirements include measures to broaden the conservation of biodiversity, use forestry best management practices to protect water quality, provide outreach to landowners, and utilize the services of forest management and harvesting professionals.
“At Independent Stave Company, we have always promoted logger education and we work with professionals who use sustainable harvesting practices,” said Independent Stave Company Director of Log Procurement, Garret Nowell. “With our SFI certification, we are further communicating to loggers, landowners, and the community how important sustainable practices are to us. If you own forested land, having a land management plan in place – one that considers wildlife, water quality, and all species of trees – is essential to the sustainability and future of that land.”
Becoming SFI certified aligns with other sustainability initiatives supported by Independent Stave Company. Additional efforts include their involvement in The White Oak Initiative, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), and partnerships with American Forests and the University of Missouri Woodland Steward program.
To learn more about the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and their standards and rules, visit www.forests.org.
Independent Stave Company is a dynamic, family-owned cooperage company reaching customers in more than 40 countries. Founded by the Boswell family, Independent Stave Company still embraces the core values of family, innovation, community, and hard work.
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