The timber industry has been invited to take part in the government’s Sustainable Procurement Task Force after intense lobbying by the Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
The industry was originally omitted when the 30-member task force was launched earlier this year by Margaret Beckett, secretary of state for the environment, even though she praised the sector for its work on sustainable procurement.
Following a successful meeting between TTF chief executive John White, the federation’s corporate social responsibilty adviser Andy Roby and task force civil servants, the industry has been invited to take part in five working groups.
The groups will contribute to a final report, due in April 2006, which will set out an action plan for government on how best to ensure sustainable procurement across all departments, local authorities and agencies.
Mr Roby said: “They have recognised we do have a huge amount of experience in sustainable procurement and a very good case study for other sectors, particularly the construction industry. It’s good news.”
He said participating in the working groups also represented a good opportunity to remind people of timber’s environmental credentials.
The TTF is asking members to volunteer to take part in the groups, as well as surveying the membership to assess the impact of the government’s timber procurement policy.
