Plywood producers in Brazil’s Amazonas State are set to sign a ground-breaking accord that will tie them to sustainable and legal supplies of tropical hardwood.
After almost a year of negotiations with Brazilian state and federal agencies, the companies – including Amaplac and Gethal Amazonas – are to sign the agreement with Brazil’s federal prosecutor later this month. The document will set a timetable for the companies to move to sustainable sourcing. And, rather than being voluntary, it will have the force of law.
Greenpeace‘s chief rainforest campaigner Phil Aikman said: ‘This is really quite a positive development. Amazonas State was regarded as a no-go area for plywood, but this agreement will mean that people will actually be able to buy plywood from the Amazon again.’
