Price Benchmarks

Data is a primary building block for all Forest2Market's Price Benchmarks. We adhere to strict and consistent standards in the collection, quality control and security of this data.

Data Collection and Quality

For our price benchmarks, data is collected at the transaction level on a load-by-load basis. Forest2Market subscribers either use Forest2Market-enabled software to upload their data or they extract it from their systems and submit it electronically. Once the data is in a Forest2Market database, we run a series of statistical quality checks to make sure data is consistent with the participating facility's historical records and our confidence and quality standards. Ninety-eight percent of the data collected meets these standards.

Participants are required to report 100 percent of their transactions. Because we collect data from both buyers and suppliers, we can confirm the accuracy of reporting. If inconsistencies are found, a market analyst contacts the participating facilities for clarification. In addition to Forest2Market's strict data quality checks, an independent accounting firm audits participant submissions annually. Our goal is to prevent attempts to manipulate data and therefore the market. As a result of these efforts, the data reported by Forest2Market is always true to market.

Data Security

Forest2Market takes extraordinary measures to keep all data confidential and secure.

• Once data is submitted to Forest2Market, it is stored securely behind an internal firewall; outside of the IT Department and the Operations team (the Forest2Market department responsible for data handling and analysis), no Forest2Market employee can access individual facility data.
• Data is housed on a secure server, protected 24/7 with state-of-the-art physical and cyber security systems and protocols with 24/7 monitoring.
• Periodic internal audits ensure data security and firewall protocols remain solid.
• Distribution of reports and summary data is limited to participating companies only.
• Each participant receives a customized version of the benchmark, identifying its facility or facilities without showing competitor identities.
• Forest2Market has received favorable legal opinions on our adherence to the U.S. Justice Department's anti-trust and "safe harbor" standards for benchmarking in all the industries we serve.