Nichiha USA has received a 2026 Sustainable Product of the Year Award from Green Builder Media for its VintageWood Blackwood Architectural Wall Panels. The product is featured in the March/April 2026 issue of Green Builder Magazine and recognized among the year’s leading sustainable building products in categories including decking, roofing, siding, and exterior cladding.

Green Builder Media’s annual Sustainable Products of the Year program highlights products that demonstrate environmental responsibility through material selection, manufacturing practices, durability, occupant health benefits, reduced maintenance requirements, and lower lifecycle impacts.

“VintageWood Blackwood was engineered to deliver the warmth and character of wood without the maintenance demands and performance challenges associated with natural timber,” said Maria Fernandez, director of marketing at Nichiha USA. “This recognition reflects the industry’s growing commitment to sustainable cladding solutions that provide both exceptional aesthetics and long-term performance.”

VintageWood Blackwood earned recognition for several key sustainability and performance attributes:

• Responsible Material Composition: Panels are manufactured using cement, silica, recycled materials, and wood fibers.
• Long-Term Durability: Resistance to fire, moisture, pests, rot, and warping helps extend service life while reducing repair and replacement needs.
• Ventilated Rainscreen Performance: As part of Nichiha’s integrated rainscreen system, the panels support airflow and moisture management behind the façade.
• Verified Environmental Transparency: The company's architectural wall panels manufactured in Macon, Ga., are supported by Environmental Product Declarations validated through the International EPD System. The declarations provide third-party verified lifecycle data covering raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, and end-of-life impacts.
• Build America, Buy America Compliance: Blackwood meets BABA requirements, supporting domestic manufacturing and eligibility for federally funded projects.

VintageWood Blackwood is manufactured at the company's facility in Macon, where the company recaptures and recycles a significant portion of process water and sources most raw materials within 200 miles of the plant. These practices further reduce environmental impact and strengthen the product’s sustainability profile.

For product specifications, sustainability documentation, and design support, visit nichiha.com/product/vintagewood.