Lowe's and 84 Lumber recently joined the growing ranks of US home improvement retailers to introduce purchasing policies that help protect the world's remaining ancient forests. Both companies have committed to eliminate wood from endangered forests.

Lowe's, the world's second largest home improvement retailer, announced its business initiative addressing forest protection. Lowe's has over $4 billion in annual wood sales and more than 600 stores. It has committed to eliminate wood from endangered forests, with an "immediate ban" of wood from BC's Great Bear Rainforest (it has already eliminated contracts of tropical wood from Indonesia). It is advocating against the conversion of native forests to plantations in southern US forests and has clearly expressed its preference for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.

Seven of the US's top ten home improvement retailers have now adopted progressive wood/paper purchasing policies and have committed to phase out their use of endangered forests. US Home Improvement Retailers with progressive wood purchasing policies: Lowe's, the Home Depot, Menard's, HomeBase, Lanoga, Wickes Lumber, 84 Lumber.