Sustainability
Not just a label — it's our entire business model. Every board we reclaim is a step toward a healthier planet.
Request a Quote
Interested? Fill out the form and we'll get back to you promptly.
Our Impact in Numbers
Our Three Pillars
Sustainability at North Iowa Lumber rests on three interconnected principles.
Divert from Landfill
- We partner with demolition crews across the Midwest to intercept usable wood before it hits the dump.
- Over 3,200 tons of lumber diverted from landfills to date.
- We accept all species and conditions — if it can be processed, we'll take it.
Minimize Processing Impact
- Our kiln runs on biomass fuel sourced from our own sawdust waste.
- Solar panels provide 40% of our facility's electricity.
- Water used in processing is captured and recycled on-site.
Maximize Product Life
- Proper kiln drying ensures decades of stability in your finished project.
- We offer consultation to help specify the right reclaimed product for maximum longevity.
- At end of life, reclaimed wood can be re-reclaimed — it's circular by nature.
Carbon Footprint Comparison
* Estimates based on lifecycle analysis research. Actual values may vary.
Waste Reduction Initiatives
Our zero-landfill commitment means finding a purpose for every scrap of material that enters our facility. Here are five specific initiatives that make that possible.
Biomass Kiln Conversion
In 2018, we converted our lumber kiln from natural gas to biomass fuel. The kiln now runs entirely on sawdust, wood shavings, and small cutoffs generated by our own milling operations. This closed-loop system eliminates our dependence on fossil fuels for drying while simultaneously solving the problem of what to do with processing byproducts. The kiln processes approximately 8,000 board feet per cycle and operates an average of 40 cycles per year. We estimate this initiative prevents 12 tons of wood waste from being discarded annually and offsets roughly 30,000 cubic feet of natural gas consumption.
Artisan Cutoff Program
Not every piece of reclaimed wood is large enough for structural or flooring applications, but that does not make it less valuable. Our Artisan Cutoff Program packages short lengths, narrow strips, and irregular pieces into bundles sold at discounted rates to local woodworkers, craft makers, and hobby shops. We partner with over 30 small makers across Iowa and Minnesota who use these pieces to create cutting boards, picture frames, jewelry boxes, coasters, and other handcrafted goods. Last year, the program diverted over 8,000 board feet of material that would otherwise have been downcycled.
Composting & Soil Amendment
Bark, heavily deteriorated wood, and material that fails our quality inspection is not thrown away — it is chipped and composted on-site. We operate a three-bay composting system that converts wood waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment over a 6-12 month cycle. Local farms and community gardens receive the finished compost at no charge. In 2024, we produced and distributed over 40 cubic yards of compost, enriching the soil of 15 community garden plots in the Mason City area.
Metal Reclamation
Reclaimed lumber arrives embedded with nails, screws, bolts, brackets, and other hardware. Our de-nailing process extracts thousands of pounds of ferrous metal annually. Rather than discarding it, we collect, sort, and sell this metal to local scrap recyclers. In 2024, we reclaimed and recycled over 6,200 pounds of steel and iron hardware. The revenue from metal recycling is modest, but the environmental benefit is meaningful — recycling steel uses 60% less energy than producing new steel from ore.
Packaging & Shipping Reduction
We have eliminated single-use plastic from our packaging operations. Lumber is banded with reusable steel strapping, wrapped in recycled kraft paper when surface protection is needed, and palletized on reclaimed pallets sourced from local warehouses. For smaller shipments, we use recycled cardboard and biodegradable packing material. Our fleet optimization software consolidates deliveries by route, reducing the number of trips and fuel consumption. In 2024, our average truck was loaded to 94% capacity — well above the industry standard of 75%.
Our 2025 Goals
We set aggressive but achievable sustainability targets each year. Here is what we are working toward in 2025 — and how we plan to get there.
Process 250,000 Board Feet
On TrackIncrease our annual processing volume from 200,000 to 250,000 board feet by adding a second shift during peak season (April-October). This requires hiring 3 additional seasonal processors and running our kilns on a continuous rotation. As of Q1, we are at 72% of pace to hit this target.
Achieve 95% Material Utilization
In ProgressRaise our material utilization rate from 92% to 95% by expanding the Artisan Cutoff Program, investing in a band resaw that can extract usable boards from previously unusable pieces, and establishing a new partnership with a local pellet fuel manufacturer for fine sawdust. Current rate: 93.4%.
Expand Solar to 80 kW
Planned Q3Add a 20 kW ground-mount solar array on the south side of our property, bringing total solar capacity to 80 kW and offsetting approximately 55% of our electrical consumption. Permitting is underway and installation is scheduled for Q3 2025.
Launch Electric Delivery Vehicle
EvaluatingPilot a Class 6 electric flatbed truck for regional deliveries under 150 miles. We are evaluating models from three manufacturers and assessing charging infrastructure at our facility. If the pilot is successful, we plan to convert 50% of our fleet to electric by 2028.
Double Community Compost Distribution
On TrackIncrease compost distribution from 40 to 80 cubic yards by adding a fourth composting bay and partnering with Cerro Gordo County Master Gardeners for broader distribution. The new bay is operational and spring distribution is scheduled.
Publish First Annual Sustainability Report
DraftingCreate a comprehensive, publicly available sustainability report documenting our 2024 environmental impact, material throughput, energy consumption, and community contributions. The report will include third-party verified data and will be published on our website by June 2025.
Lifecycle Analysis: Reclaimed vs. New Lumber
To truly understand the environmental advantage of reclaimed lumber, it is necessary to examine the full lifecycle of both reclaimed and newly harvested wood — from raw material acquisition through processing, transportation, use, and eventual end of life. We commissioned a comparative lifecycle analysis (LCA) with the University of Northern Iowa's Environmental Science department, and the results were striking.
Raw Material Acquisition: Newly harvested lumber requires logging operations that consume diesel fuel, disturb forest ecosystems, displace wildlife habitat, and release carbon stored in forest soils. The logging, transport to sawmill, and initial milling of new lumber generates an estimated 45-60 kg of CO2 equivalent per cubic meter. By contrast, reclaimed lumber's "raw material acquisition" phase consists of deconstruction — a lower-energy process that generates approximately 8-12 kg of CO2 per cubic meter, primarily from equipment fuel and transport to our facility.
Processing: New lumber requires debarking, primary sawing, kiln drying, planing, and often chemical treatment. Our processing of reclaimed lumber involves de-nailing, cleaning, kiln drying, and re-milling. The energy inputs are comparable for kiln drying, but our use of biomass fuel (rather than natural gas or electricity from the grid) reduces processing emissions by approximately 60%. We also require no chemical treatments because the natural density and resin content of old-growth reclaimed wood provides inherent resistance to insects and decay.
Transportation: The carbon footprint of transportation depends heavily on distance. Our 200-mile sourcing priority means that most of our reclaimed lumber travels shorter distances from source to facility than newly harvested lumber traveling from forest to mill to distribution center to customer. On average, reclaimed lumber from North Iowa Lumber reaches the customer with 35% fewer transportation miles than the national average for new lumber.
Use Phase & End of Life: Both reclaimed and new lumber perform identically in use — storing carbon in the structure of a building, floor, or piece of furniture. The critical difference is that reclaimed lumber has already served one or more useful lives before reaching the current customer. A beam in your living room that previously spent 120 years in a barn has been sequestering carbon for over a century, and your renovation extends that sequestration indefinitely. At end of life, reclaimed wood can be re-reclaimed, donated, or composted — extending the cycle further.
Lifecycle Emissions Summary (kg CO2-eq per m3)
Data from UNI Environmental Science Department comparative study, 2023. Values represent averages across common species.
Environmental Impact by the Numbers
Water Conservation
Water is used in our facility for dust suppression during milling, equipment cleaning, and humidity control in the kiln. Rather than drawing from the municipal supply and discharging to the sewer system, we operate a closed-loop water recycling system installed in 2019. Runoff from the processing floor is collected in a settling tank, filtered through a three-stage sand and activated carbon system, and returned to service. The system recycles approximately 15,000 gallons per month and has reduced our municipal water consumption by 85%. The remaining 15% of our water use comes from municipal supply for restrooms and break room facilities.
Energy Profile
Our energy consumption breaks down into three categories: electrical (lighting, equipment motors, office systems), thermal (kiln drying), and transportation fuel (fleet operations). Our 60 kW solar array handles approximately 40% of electrical needs, with the remainder supplied by the local grid — which in Iowa draws 60% of its power from wind generation. Our kiln runs entirely on biomass from our own wood waste, eliminating fossil fuel use for drying. Fleet operations remain our largest carbon-emitting activity, which is why we are actively evaluating electric truck options for our 2025 pilot program. In total, our facility's carbon intensity is estimated at 0.08 metric tons of CO2 per 1,000 board feet processed — roughly one-seventh the industry average for new lumber production.