This industry will emerge from recession with a stronger environmental story to tell than ever. While our political leaders’ personal commitment to the green agenda may only add up to getting taxpayers to fix leaking pipes under their tennis courts, the international timber trade continues to invest in sustainable forest management, the war on illegal logging and increasing the availability and raising the profile of certified wood.
This week we have evidence of this on several fronts. First there’s the announcement, which Sheam Satkuru-Granzella addresses below, that, after much hard work, the Malaysian MTCC certification programme has achieved accreditation under the international PEFC scheme. That boosts its credibility and, hopefully, should clear the way for its acceptance as proof of timber sustainability by the UK government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber.
Further good news is that the Republic of Congo has signed a Voluntary Partnership Agreement under the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade initiative. This ensures access for its timber to European markets and underlines long-term commitment to certification.
Belgian and Dutch suppliers to the UK in our special focus this week also stress that they have not been deflected by the downturn from increasing their certified offer. A couple said they’d come across customers moving the other way in an effort to cut costs in the slump, but most were pressing on down this route. Some even maintained their certified sales were holding up best in the downturn.
Last week I also spoke to French African hardwood specialist Rougier for our June special focus on Anglo-French trading opportunities. It makes no bones about how tough the market is, but is also confident that continuing to improve its eco-credentials now will enable it to capitalise in an ever more eco-oriented post-recession market place. Putting its money where its mouth is, it last year secured FSC certification on nearly 700,000ha of West African forest.
