The SLB 2020 Annual Report
Constructing A Better Future With Wood

I am pleased to share the Softwood Lumber Board’s (SLB) 2020 Annual Report. I want to particularly recognize the tremendous efforts of our SLB leadership team in ensuring we delivered the best-in-class performance detailed in this report while honoring our fiduciary responsibilities to the industry and operating within framework mandated by the USDA. I also commend the leadership and staff at SLB’s core funded programs for their remarkable year. Each program exceeded their targets, despite the extenuating circumstances caused by the pandemic.

Collectively our investments in programs and initiatives delivered outstanding results in 2020, highlights include:

• The AWC supported multiple jurisdictions to adopt tall wood provisions of the 2021 ICC and led standards development to support codes to be more compatible across jurisdictions.
• Think Wood intensified its lead generation and nurturing efforts, generating 13,680 marketing qualified leads and increasing sales qualified leads by 425% year-over-year.
• WoodWorks converted 400 projects to softwood lumber, which represent 79 million square feet of building area. While interest and use of mass timber grew in 2020, light-frame construction remains the preferred option – it was used in more than 75% of the projects converted in 2020.

Since it began promoting softwood lumber in 2012, the SLB has changed how it is perceived and how it is used in the market – unlocking tremendous growth potential for the industry. The SLB’s investments have had significant impact, generating over 7.9 billion board feet in demand, 73 bf for every $1 invested, since the SLB’s inception. This volume is equivalent to an incremental $3.3 billion of revenue and delivering an average ROI of $30.62 for every $1 invested. This ROI makes the SLB one of the most successful checkoff programs operating today.

We are at a unique moment in time: Solid wood products are positioned better than other building materials to help address the country’s environmental and economic challenges. I look forward to working with you and all our industry partners to ensure that softwood lumber continues to be recognized, valued, and specified in our established markets and also to pursue cutting-edge initiatives to capture lucrative new opportunities in non-traditional segments. We appreciate and value your continued support.

Sincerely,

Cees de Jager
President & CEO
Softwood Lumber Board
dejager@softwoodlumberboard.org

Direct: 425-502-6967