FOX Corporation is committed to minimizing its environmental impacts and inspiring others to take action. Our dedicated Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS) team carefully tracks the energy and fuel used in the course of business, develops new methods to improve energy efficiency and creates campaigns to engage employees and audiences on environmental issues. Responsibly-sourced lumber is an important aspect of building a sustainable film, television and commercial production industry.
1.0 SCOPE
This Policy applies to all FOX Corporation (FOX) production activities where lumber and plywood are used to build sets and flats.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – FSC is an independent, non-profit organization that sets standards under which forests and companies are certified. FSC was founded in 1993 to promote responsible forest management.
Lauan Plywood – Lauan (Shorea spp), a diptocarp found mainly in tropical forests is used extensively to make strong, light, low-cost plywood for movie sets. Known by a variety of names, including Meranti, Lawaan, Seraya, Balau, Bangkirai and Philippine mahogany, 148 species of Shorea are currently on the IUCN Redlist, with the majority listed as “critically endangered.”
Meranti Plywood – Meranti, aka Lauan, is a generic term for the 148 species of Shorea or imported tropical hardwood products.
Responsibly Managed Forests – Forests that are operating legally, protecting biodiversity and not causing tropical deforestation or conversion of natural tropical forests to plantations.
RevolutionPly – Originating from plantation and sustainable wood sources, RevolutionPly plywood contains no tropical hardwoods. The veneers are produced from trees that are harvested in 7 to 10-year cycles.
3.0 Responsibilities
In addition to required Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Program responsibilities discussed in EHS 001, EHS Policy, the responsibilities described below are necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the policy.
3.1 Department Heads and Supervisory Personnel
Department Heads and Supervisors will:
- Ensure that all personnel are informed of the contents of this policy.
- Support the use of responsibly sourced lumber.
3.2 Crewmembers
All crewmembers who make lumber purchases or use lumber will:
- Observe the Sustainable Lumber requirements for their production.
- Refrain from using lumber and other wood products from forests that are operating illegally, causing tropical deforestation or from types of trees that are endangered.
3.3 Accounting Department
Accounting personnel will:
- Work with the Construction Department Head (or any DH purchasing lumber) and FOX EHS Department to track all sustainable and FSC certified lumber, plywood and/or meranti-alternatives such as Revolution Ply.
3.4 Environmental, Health and Safety Department
The Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Department will:
- Develop and maintain appropriate standards for use of sustainable lumber for all television production activities.
- Provide technical assistance and vendor recommendations in the use of sustainable lumber purchasing.
- Periodically review, revise and update this Procedure, as necessary.
4.0 Procedure
Responsibly-sourced lumber is critical to building a sustainable film, television and commercial production industry. Please adhere to the following procedures.
4.1 Lumber Use
- Use responsibly sourced lumber, whether it’s sustainably harvested, recycled, reclaimed or reused. Use reclaimed or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood whenever possible.
- If FSC-certified products are unavailable, look for farmed maple and birch.
- Take the pressure off of over-harvested species like mahogany by choosing wood alternatives such as sorghum, bamboo or palm and less popular species like sweetgum, madrone and California oak.
4.2 Plywood
- Due to illegal deforestation, the use of non FSC-certified lauan/meranti is prohibited. Use only FSC-certified lauan. FSC-certified lauan is currently available in 4×8 and 4×10 sheets in the following locations:
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- Los Angeles – Fox Lot Studio Supply, Topanga Lumber, A&G Lumber, Studio Supply
- Vancouver – Standard Building Supplies
- New York – LeNoble
- Albuquerque – Albuquerque Hardwood
- Boston – Sterritt
- Pittsburgh – Paul Lumber
- London – James Mansfield, Jewson
- Wales – Gower
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- If FSC-certified lauan is not available for your production, the use of RevolutionPly is recommended as an alternative.
- Avoid using particleboard, which typically contain formaldehyde-based adhesives and can release harmful vapors at room temperature.
4.3 Lumber Tracking
- Utilize the attached Lumber Worksheet or online tracking form for calculating sustainable lumber usage and ensuring the production is using responsibly sourced lumber (sustainably harvested, recycled, reclaimed or reused).
- If all plywood is FSC-certified, the tracking sheet does not need to be completed. However all purchase orders must be sent to the EHS Department for verification.
4.4 Best Management Practices
These best management practices have been adapted from the PGA Green Production Guide.
- Remember the four “r”s: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.
- Design for disassembly, so that sets can be easily repurposed and materials easily recovered.
- Incorporate salvaged materials.
- Coordinate the design and shoot schedule to allow for reuse of set walls, platforms and lighting grids.
- Think of wrap during prep, and line up schools, theaters or arts organizations to take donations of used sets and materials.
- Repurpose wood sets and set dressing when possible.
- Save sawdust for absorbing unused paints.
- When possible, use steel scaffolding instead of wood for platforms.
- Designate an area for wood scraps, and check the pile before using new materials.
- Recycle any wood scraps that cannot be donated, or hire a wood chipper to convert wood waste into garden mulch.
5.0 REFERENCES
EHS 001, EHS Policy
Green Production Guide – http://www.greenproductionguide.com/
Forest Stewardship Council – https://us.fsc.org/en-us