Endowment Extends Check-off Work to Paper and Packaging
Greenville, SC–
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) today announced that it has extended its investment in possible forest products commodity check-offs. “For more than two years we’ve been supporting work to determine the forest products industry’s interest in and support of commodity check-offs as a vehicle to grow the market for sustainably produced softwood lumber,” said Endowment President Carlton Owen. “We are pleased to be able to expand that concept to another forest products sector as leaders in paper and packaging consider whether a check-off might fit their market as well,” he continued. Under the initiative, the Endowment and the American Forest and Paper Association will each contribute up to $150,000 in support of the initiative.
Workwillfollowthemodeldevelopedtoexploreasoftwoodlumbercheck-off. An independent panel of paper and packaging manufacturers will consider a range of variables that would go into a draft order that could eventually be considered in a referendum to create a check-off that would apply to an as-yet-to-be-determined range of products. “Check- off” is the generic terms used to identify voluntary programs whereby producers of certain agricultural products (including forest products) band together under U.S. Department of Agriculture guidance to create a product research and promotion program. The public face of some of the better known programs are, “Got milk?,” the popular and long-running advertising aspect of the milk processors check-off, and “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner,” operated by Cattlemen’s Beef Board.
“Check-off is an inherently bottom-up vehicle that allows traditionally competing producers to work together to promote their products,” said Owen. They are especially effective in ensuring that all competitors – both domestic and foreign – are treated equally and equitably. The softwood lumber check-off work continues to advance under the guidance of an independent “Blue Ribbon Commission on Softwood Lumber Check-off” initially funded by the Endowment and now supported directly by the industry under a shared belief that America’s forests and forest-related jobs in rural communities will benefit through creation of sustained product research and promotion programs.
For information about the Endowment:
Carlton Owen, 864-233-7646 carlton@usendowment.org
About the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment)
The Endowment is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities.
For information about AF&PA:
Cathy Foley, 202-463-5160 cathy_foley@afandpa.org
About the American Forest and Paper Association
AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest products industry and advances public policies that promote a strong and sustainable U.S. forest products industry in the global marketplace.
