Regarding the guest column by Scott Poynton of the Tropical Forest Trust (TFT), I am concerned that the TFT is perhaps not fully aware of all the false timber labelling claims regarding plywood. The column mentioned an allegation against some Malaysian FSC plywood, which I assume referred to the case that was proven against Cymao Plywood last year. Hardly a mere allegation. Unfortunately, many TTJ readers could be left thinking that the TFT are of the opinion that the only source of FSC plywood that can be relied on is Indonesia, in particular PT Tjipta Rimba Djaja.
Fortunately, the trade are supporting other, honest plywood producers in Malaysia, who have worked hard to establish a market in the EU for FSC- and MTCC-certified plywood products.
At their recent meeting, the executive committee of UCIP (European Panel Products Association) were of the united opinion that the majority of plywood consumed in the EU, in the near future, will be manufactured from plantation species, predominantly softwood, from certified plantations, although there is likely to remain a small, specialist demand for tropical hardwood-throughout plywood; 90% of that demand can be fulfilled using a softwood core with a hardwood face and back, which could easily be a certified temperate, or plantation species.
There is growing concern amongst responsible plywood importers in the EU regarding the efficacy of the various certification bodies. These organisations are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the certification schemes are correctly administered, although there is plenty of evidence that indicates they are not doing the job effectively. It is hoped that FSC are taking sufficient corrective action to address this deficiency.
Unfortunately, price is a major issue in the wood business, and plywood is no exception. With log prices at high levels, the price of plywood, especially tropical hardwood-throughout – from legal sources – has reached a level where it is vulnerable to substitution, and in the case of certified products which have to carry a premium for the “label”, they become particularly vulnerable. If the price was right, Cipta would have sold its stock months ago, and it seems to me that the days of tropical hardwood plywood are probably numbered, unless large volumes of cheap, illegal logs suddenly become available.
Mike Harrod
President, UCIP
