Your hardwood floor was probably harvested illegally

Flooring giant Lumber Liquidators and the iconic Gibson Guitars were once famously exposed for using illegal wood, after which each paid hefty fines. Updated forensic testing of wood brought into the U.S. suggests mislabeling of illegally logged timber remains a problem across industries turning out furniture, flooring, musical instruments and sporting goods.

In a recent study, the World Wildlife Fund, World Resources Institute and U.S. Forest Service found that as much as 62% of U.S. wood products — mostly imports — were mislabeled.