Sustainability at the core

By Jonny Suchor. 

An LP Building Solutions environmental expert discusses sustainable wood use in the building industry. 

In a recent RLW on selling sustainability, Heidi J. Ellsworth from RoofersCoffeeShop® talked with Kris Gray of LP Building Solutions. Sustainability is essential in the building materials sector – especially when the product is derived from wood.  

Kris detailed his journey from a childhood spent hunting and fishing in northern Wisconsin to becoming a forester. His expertise in forestry led him to oversee LP’s sustainability program. Forestry leads to sustainability; wood is durable, sustainable and renewable, making it versatile. “Wood stands at the forefront of sustainable building materials, offering a path to a future where our buildings are in harmony with nature,” emphasizes Kris. 

LP’s commitment to sustainability is broken into five pillars: governance, people, environment, products and communities. Doing the “right thing” is a core value of the company, contributing to its sustainable practices. “At LP, sustainability is not just a policy; it’s our ethos,” Kris says. 

A significant part of the discussion was dedicated to Aspens, a key tree species for LP’s products. Kris explains how Aspen’s are capable of regenerating from seeds or root sprouts after disasters such as fires or logging. This makes it an ideal resource for sustainability. “Aspen’s resilience and ability to pioneer landscapes post-disturbance highlight nature’s ingenuity and serve as a cornerstone of our sustainable forestry practices,” explains Kris. “It’s a vivid example of how we can work with nature to support both our industry and the environment.”  

Heidi added that contractors can have this sustainability conversation during their sales process to help homeowners understand how LP is a good stweard of the forest. “This next generation of homeowners care about sustainability and they also care that it doesn't do harm.” 

Read, Listen or Watch this interview to learn how sustainability can transform your building practices.