TOEFL Integrated Writing Practice Test 059Lumber

To promote ecologically sustainable forestry practices, an international organization began issuing certifications to wood companies that meet high ecological standards, such as conserving resources and recycling materials. These certified companies can then appeal to consumers by marketing their products as ecocertified. Globally, many wood companies have adopted environmentally friendly practices to obtain this certification. However, it is unlikely that wood companies in the United States will follow suit for several reasons.

First, American consumers are exposed to a vast amount of advertising, which makes it difficult for them to value or even notice an ecocertification label. Since many subpar products are promoted as “new” or “improved,” American consumers often distrust advertising claims.

Second, ecocertified wood is likely to be more expensive than uncertified wood. In order to receive ecocertification, a wood company must cover the cost of an inspection by a certification agency, and this expense is passed on to the consumer. Since American consumers are typically driven by price, they will probably opt for the cheaper uncertified wood products. As a result, American wood companies will prefer to keep their prices low rather than pursue ecocertification.

Third, while some argue that it is always smart for American companies to stay current with global trends, this point is not entirely convincing. Seeking certification would only be beneficial to American wood companies if they sold most of their products internationally. However, this is not the case. Most American wood businesses primarily cater to the large domestic market, which is generally satisfied with uncertified products.