Lumber Liquidators Launches New Sustainability Website

TOANO, Va., Oct. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL), the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America, has launched a new section of its website, www.LumberLiquidators.com/Sustainability, detailing the Company's longstanding commitment to protect the environment. The original content is rooted in the Company's "Lay It Forward" business strategy, which centers on the long-term benefits of quality hardwood flooring, protecting the environment and supporting the communities it serves.

"Lumber Liquidators aims to be the industry leader in sustainability because it's good for the environment, and because it's good for the future of our business," said Robert M. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Delivering top-quality hardwood floors for less requires us to be lean, efficient and sustainable in everything we do. We do this by minimizing our energy and land use; having an efficient supply chain; working with credible and trustworthy suppliers; avoiding waste; and investing in, and protecting, the long-term health of the forests, farms and responsible plantations that are the lifeblood of our business."

Added Ray Cotton, Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer: "At Lumber Liquidators, we've focused not simply on compliance with the applicable laws, but on what we can and should do as a company to protect the environment above and beyond those laws. Admittedly, we've been more focused on our sustainability efforts than communicating broadly about them. The new online content is designed, in part, to enable our communications to catch up with our sustainability initiatives." 

Highlights of the new sustainability content include:

• DNA Testing: Lumber Liquidators is currently working with Double Helix Tracking Technologies, industry experts in DNA testing of harvested wood and finished timber products, to develop its own industry-leading testing program to identify wood species and origins.
• Wood Species Audits: Lumber Liquidators, using its own auditing teams and those of independent third parties, conducts a 100 percent review of every "high-risk" species that is used. In such instances, a detailed analysis of every purchase order and permit is conducted, with each piece checked through the entire chain of custody.
• Training: Lumber Liquidators' training efforts include on-site training at international locations, online training and vendor seminars, with approximately 40 companies in attendance in China alone in both 2013 and 2014.
• Increased North American Sourcing: Lumber Liquidators continues to diversify its product mix toward geographic regions with high regulatory oversight and away from regions considered to have lower oversight. As part of its ongoing vertical integration strategy that is placing logging, milling and retail operations geographically closer to its operations, more wood is being sourced from North America, which in turn, will translate into more North American jobs as well as even more control of the wood supply chain and oversight of harvesting permits. For example, in 2007 Lumber Liquidators sourced about 18 percent of its wood from South America. In 2013, South America's contribution was around 7 percent and it is expected to fall to 1 percent or less in coming years.

About Lumber Liquidators

In its 20th year and with more than 345 locations, Lumber Liquidators is North America's largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring. The Company features more than 340 top quality flooring varieties, including solid and engineered hardwood, bamboo, cork, laminate and resilient vinyl. Additionally, Lumber Liquidators provides a wide selection of flooring enhancements and accessories to complement, install and maintain your new floor. Every location is staffed with flooring experts who can provide advice and useful information about Lumber Liquidators' low priced product, much of which is in-stock and ready for delivery.

With premier brands including Bellawood Prefinished Hardwood and Morning Star Bamboo, Lumber Liquidators' flooring is often featured on popular television shows such as HGTV's Dream Home and This Old House. For more information, please visit www.LumberLiquidators.com or call 1.800.HARDWOOD. 

Lumber Liquidators aims to be the industry leader in sustainability. For more information, please visit www.LumberLiquidators.com/Sustainability. Learn more about our corporate giving program at www.LayItForward.LumberLiquidators.com. You can also follow the Company on Facebook and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements, including those related to the percentage of wood to be sourced from South America in coming years, are not historical facts and are based on currently available information as of the date of such statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements which speak only as of their respective dates, except as may be required under the federal securities laws. Information regarding these additional risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information contact:

Lumber Liquidators Investor Relations
Ashleigh McDermott
Tel: 757.566.7512

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SOURCE Lumber Liquidators