Last week saw the latest of the Department for International Development-funded six-monthly review meetings on illegal logging at Chatham House and also the release of the Environment Audit Committee (EAC) report on sustainable timber.
Both noted progress on the often seemingly intractable issues, particularly progress on certifying well-managed forests in Indonesia and Africa, achievements that would have been thought impossible five years ago.
But there was also frustration. The EAC argues that illegal timber enters the UK market and that the government should introduce legislation immediately to prevent this.
At Chatham House the trade representatives complained that the government Timber Purchasing Policy is still not producing a market for certified timber which is having to compete with cheaper product of uncertain origin. Both highlight the importance for the timber trade to work together to address the complicated issues through the Timber Trade Federation. This maximises impact when talking to the UK government, the European Union, European trade associations and suppliers.
On the demand side, the TTF has been lobbying the government to recognise that timber from well-managed forests is the environmental building material and looking at what evidence should be accepted as proof of legality.
On the supply side, the third-party audited TTF Responsible Purchasing Policy, welcomed by the EAC, offers a step-by-step approach to managing illegal timber out of the supply chain, without immediately precluding timber from many tropical sources where certification is so difficult.
However, the EAC noted that the take up by members has been poor. This was slightly unfair given that it was looking at the scheme’s first year and over 30% of member purchases were covered, but it does provide the challenge to all members.
Sign up to the RPP now and take illegally logged product out of the supply chain.
