Green Diamond Resource Company's 133-Year Journey as Sustainable Stewards of American Forests
Green Diamond Resource Company is a fifth-generation, family-owned forest products company that owns and manages working forests in nine states throughout the western and southern United States. These states include Washington, Montana, Oregon, California, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida. The company is driven by their core values, with a long-standing legacy as responsible stewards of working forests. Sustainability is ingrained in all their operations, as they are committed to growing and nurturing forests that enhance the environment's health and support the flora and fauna that inhabit these areas.
Green Diamond ranks among the top five timberland owners in the United States, owning and managing a total of 2.2 million acres. Remarkably, all of their forestland is third-party certified to meet both of the world's two leading sustainable forest management standards. Additionally, they are involved in carbon sequestration projects spanning over 628,000 acres.
Green Diamond’s roots can be traced back to 1890 when it was founded as Simpson Logging Company by Sol G. Simpson in Mason County. In 2004, Simpson spun off Green Diamond Resource Company as an independent entity while maintaining shared ownership. Sol Simpson earned a reputation as an innovative leader in the forestry industry. He was also a pioneer in employee welfare, offering a company health plan for workers in the Puget Sound area. Over the last 133 years, Sol's descendants have continued his commitment to both people and innovation, expanding the business to include more than 375 employees and 2.2 million acres of land.
Mark E. Reed, the second-generation leader of the company, built upon Sol G. Simpson's traditions and ultimately achieved prominence as Washington State Speaker of the House. During his tenure, he advocated for the state's first medical insurance act, an accident-prevention program, and in 1911, he proposed improvements in the workers' compensation act, which provided compensation for injured workers' lost wages and medical expenses. He also worked to establish a tax framework for timberland that encouraged the preservation of land for future timber crops even after the last tree was felled. Reed made Shelton a better place to live and work by recognizing that a stable workforce depended on the community's well-being. When the company's interests expanded from logs to lumber, they constructed its first mill in Shelton and encouraged other operators to do the same. Throughout Reed’s life, he emphasized that the future of Shelton must be considered in every business decision and that the town's survival was of paramount importance.
Green Diamond actively contributes to education and workforce development by awarding scholarships to local high school and secondary education students. Furthermore, Green Diamond supports various local, regional, state, and national nonprofit organizations through in-kind donations and grants.
