1.0 Introduction1.1 Executive SummaryThe architecture profession in this country is facing the reality that much of our industry is underpinned by practices that cause undeniable damage to the environment . The rapid growth of human activity in sensitive ecosystems; support for unsustainable resource-related industries; the continued practice of designing buildings that do not meet sustainable design standards; all of these problems point to a profession unable to control its reliance on unsustainable practices. In an effort to mitigate the impact of these problems, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) has drafted a no-harm policy that states: “in every region we conduct business, promote business models that conform to a high sense of principle and seek to act for the good of society". In compliance with this policy, AIBC has started encouraging the sourcing of engineered wood products with due attention to the social, economic and environmental sustainability of affected forests. We hope to achieve this through a series of initiatives, aimed at encouraging our members to manage their own supply chain from supplier to felled forest to ensure the sustainability and environmental safety of the wood products they purchase. The AIBC's procurement policy regarding engineered wood products, particularly glued laminate products (glulam), will require practitioners to conform to an operational standard designed for the long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability of the forest. 1.2 Introduction to Laminated TimberLaminated timber is a structural wood product manufactured by gluing together pieces of dimensional lumber. As a result of its attractive appearance and relatively significant malleability...... middle of paper ......productionProper chain of custody (CoC) can play an important role in the sustainable sourcing of glulam products for the architecture. However, the CoC involved in a glulam product could prove to be quite complex, as the material supplied for the finished product could come from different sources. As noted above, glulam is produced from lamstock, which is purchased from sawmills as a specialty material. Maintaining a consistent CoC during this process is much more difficult than for other products. Objective All future AIBC projects using glulam will require an adequate CoC that includes harvesting permits, bills of lading and other relevant documentation relating to the harvesting and production of this material. The CoC must provide evidence that previous policy requirements have been met, including the specification of certified forest products.