Christmas came early for PEFC when environment minister Barry Gardiner announced on December 18 that PEFC, alongside FSC, CSA and SFI, provided assurances that its certified timber-based products originate from legal and sustainable sources.
This news was welcomed by the PEFC team who had co-operated with the CPET (Central Point of Expertise on Timber) process since its inception in 2004. Several changes were made to the PEFC programme to meet CPET criteria, most recently agreeing to use the previously optional panel of experts to review schemes submitted for endorsement and re-endorsement.
Mr Gardiner’s announcement was also good news for more than 300 UK companies which have opted for PEFC chain of custody certification.
Sadly, the government’s decision did not meet with universal approval from UK conservation organisations. The debate over which certification scheme is “greener” detracts from the value that certification adds to a uniquely sustainable building material. Continuing controversy over certification might well result in some developers turning away from timber towards less sustainable construction materials – then we all lose out.
With less than 10% of the world’s forests currently certified and 75% of industrial wood fibre uncertified, the challenge for everyone involved in promoting timber certification – sustainable forestry management schemes, conservation organisations and industry – should be to work together to increase its take up as a voluntary tool to ensure legal and sustainable sourcing. Additionally, PEFC believes it is crucial that those opting for certification, for forests or chain of custody, have a choice of schemes.
After devoting two years to assessing timber certification schemes, Defra can now focus on finalising Category B evidence, to help prevent illegal timber finding its way into the UK and, crucially, to implementing its policy of sustainable procurement throughout the public contracting supply chains. PEFC UK will work with the TTF to do all it can in 2007 to support these critical objectives, in both the public and private sectors.
