Bovis Lend Lease has become the first major UK contractor to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification.
Bovis only specifies FSC timber as part of its commitment to sustainable procurement, which it has laid down in a series of operational targets.
This enabled it to complete the development of One Wood Street in London, which was the first commercial property to be completed using FSC’s Project Certification standard.
This allows one-off construction projects to be FSC certified, and a construction company and several subcontractors to be covered for the project by one certificate.
“The energy and dedication they have given to ensuring that increasing amounts of FSC timber are used, and in bringing suppliers on board, is truly inspiring and should be an example to the rest of the construction sector of what can be done,” said Beck Woodrow, FSC UK construction adviser.
“Only having chain of custody certification complete from forest to building site gives assurance that the timber used today comes from forests which will be protected for the future.”
Sam Hall, senior sustainability manager at Bovis, said the chain of custody approval was evidence of “our continuing innovation and excellence in sustainability performance”.
