Our Sustainability Pledge
Binding commitments to carbon neutrality, waste diversion, community investment, and a healthier Los Angeles — tracked publicly, updated annually.
Request a Free Quote
This Is Not a Marketing Page
Most sustainability statements in the building materials industry are marketing documents. They describe aspirations vaguely, cite no baseline data, and attach no accountability to any specific date or outcome. We wrote this page to be different.
Every commitment on this page carries a specific year, a specific metric, and a specific definition of what "done" looks like. We will publish an annual sustainability report starting in 2026 that tracks our progress against each commitment. If we fall short, we will say so — publicly, with an explanation and a revised path forward.
Reclaimed lumber is inherently a sustainable enterprise. Every board we rescue from a landfill avoids both the landfill methane it would have generated and the new harvest that would have been needed to replace it. Our existence reduces net carbon. But that baseline is not enough to justify complacency — and these commitments reflect where we believe a serious environmental company in 2026 should be setting the bar.
Annual Environmental Impact
These numbers are measured outcomes from our 2025 operating year. Methodology is documented in our facility records and available to customers and certifying bodies on request.
Annually at our Commerce, CA facility
From landfill methane and avoided new lumber harvest
Of all incoming material stays out of landfill
Saved from straight demolition since 2004
Estimated value of stored carbon in reclaimed stock
Equivalent new-growth forest saved annually
Commitment Timeline: 2026–2030
Five years of specific, measurable commitments. Each is tracked internally on a quarterly basis and will be reported publicly in our annual sustainability report.
Achieve 100% renewable electricity at Commerce facility
In ProgressWe are currently completing a 240kW rooftop solar installation on our processing facility roof. Commissioning is expected Q3 2026. Combined with a power purchase agreement for off-site wind energy, this will bring our facility to net-zero electricity by year end.
Target metric: 240 kW solar + wind PPA
Eliminate single-use plastic from all packaging and shipping operations
In ProgressWe have already replaced shrink-wrap pallet wrapping with reclaimed kraft paper banding and reusable lumber strapping on 60% of outbound orders. By 2027 we commit to eliminating all single-use plastic from our outbound packaging, replacing it with paper, natural fiber, or reusable alternatives.
Target metric: 100% plastic-free packaging
Reduce fleet fuel consumption 40% from 2023 baseline
PlannedWe are transitioning our delivery fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) and, as the heavy-duty electric vehicle market matures, electric flatbeds. Two CNG trucks are already in service. By 2028 we commit to a 40% reduction in per-delivery-mile fuel consumption fleet-wide, measured against our 2023 baseline.
Target metric: 40% fuel reduction vs. 2023
Achieve TRUE Zero Waste Gold certification at Commerce facility
PlannedOur facility currently holds TRUE Zero Waste Silver (90%+ diversion). Gold certification requires 95%+ diversion across all material streams. We are working to close remaining gaps in our biomass and sawdust streams through partnerships with local composting and biofuel facilities.
Target metric: 95%+ all-stream diversion
Carbon neutrality across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions
TargetBy 2030 we commit to net-zero carbon across our direct operations (Scope 1) and purchased energy (Scope 2). This will be achieved through the solar installation, fleet electrification, methane capture partnerships, and verified carbon offset purchases for residual emissions. We will publish an annual carbon accounting report from 2026 forward.
Target metric: Net-zero Scope 1 + 2
1,000 Trees by 2030
We have pledged to plant 1,000 native trees across the Los Angeles region by 2030, in partnership with local urban forestry organizations. Every tree is planted in the ground, verified by our partner organizations, and tracked by species and location. This is not a carbon offset purchase — these are real trees, in real LA neighborhoods, visible to the communities that live around them.
31% complete — 688 trees remaining
Planting Partners
- ✓Theodore Payne Foundation
- ✓TreePeople LA
- ✓City Plants (LADWP)
- ✓San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Volunteer Program
Species Planted
- →Coast Live Oak
- →Valley Oak
- →Toyon
- →California Black Walnut
- →Big-leaf Maple
- →Western Sycamore
All species are California native and appropriate to the planting microclimate. No invasive or ornamental non-natives are included in this pledge.
Water Conservation
In a region facing chronic drought, water stewardship is not optional. Our facility has implemented four active water conservation measures, collectively saving an estimated 90,000+ gallons of municipal water per year.
Closed-Loop Dust Suppression System
Active since 2021Recirculates water used in yard dust suppression, reducing fresh water draw by an estimated 60,000 gallons annually.
Rainwater Harvesting
Active since 2023Two 5,000-gallon rainwater collection tanks capture roof runoff for yard irrigation and non-potable uses, offsetting approximately 30,000 gallons of municipal water per year.
Native Plant Landscaping
Active since 2022All facility perimeter and office landscaping was converted to California native, drought-tolerant plants in 2022, eliminating the need for supplemental irrigation in summer months.
Kiln Condensate Recovery
Active since 2022Water extracted from lumber during kiln drying is collected and re-used for equipment washing and yard suppression rather than discharged to sewer.
Renewable Energy Transition
Rooftop Solar Installation
240 kW — commissioning Q3 2026
A 240-kilowatt rooftop solar array will be installed on the main processing and storage buildings at our Commerce facility. At design capacity, the system will generate approximately 380,000 kWh annually — covering an estimated 75% of the facility's daytime electricity demand.
Wind Power Purchase Agreement
100 MWh/year — Mojave wind farm
We have executed a renewable energy certificate (REC) backed power purchase agreement for 100 MWh annually from a Mojave Desert wind facility, covering the gap between our solar generation and total consumption.
Fleet CNG Transition
2 trucks active, 4 more by 2028
Two of our delivery trucks have been converted to compressed natural gas, reducing per-mile greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 25% compared to diesel. We are targeting four additional CNG vehicles by 2028, with a full transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2032 as the heavy-duty EV market matures.
Community Investment
Environmental sustainability and community health are inseparable. These programs reflect our commitment to the Los Angeles neighborhoods that surround our operation.
LA Trade Tech Partnership
Annual contribution of reclaimed lumber and milling instruction time to LATTC's Construction Technology program. GreenBoard donates approximately 3,000 BF of material and 40 instructor hours annually, supporting 60+ students per year.
Community Salvage Program
Residential homeowners in LA County can donate reclaimed lumber from their own projects for free — no minimum quantity. Material is processed and resold, with 10% of net proceeds going to the Theodore Payne Foundation for native plant restoration.
Urban Forestry Fund
GreenBoard contributes $1 per 1,000 board feet sold to our Urban Forestry Fund, which supports tree planting in under-canopied LA neighborhoods. In 2025 the fund supported planting 87 trees in Boyle Heights and Watts.
Deconstruction Workforce Training
In partnership with the LA Conservation Corps, we provide paid deconstruction skills training to program graduates, creating direct pathways from the Corps to full-time GreenBoard employment for qualifying participants.
Accountability & Reporting
Sustainability commitments without accountability are just statements. Beginning in 2026 we will publish an annual sustainability report covering:
- ✓Board-feet diverted from landfill (annual and cumulative)
- ✓Carbon equivalent avoided (Scope 1 and Scope 2)
- ✓Progress against each commitment on this page
- ✓Tree planting progress by species and location
- ✓Water consumption vs. prior year
- ✓Fleet fuel and emissions data
- ✓Community investment totals
- ✓Honest acknowledgment of any commitments we fell short on
Third-Party Verification
Our diversion and carbon figures are verified annually by an independent environmental auditor. Our TRUE Zero Waste certification is maintained through the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Our FSC chain-of-custody is subject to annual third-party audits by the Rainforest Alliance.
We welcome scrutiny. If you are a journalist, researcher, or certifying body and want to review our underlying data, contact us and we will arrange facility access and records review.
Build Greener With Us
Every order you place with GreenBoard contributes to these numbers. We provide the documentation to prove it to your clients, certifying bodies, and building departments.