Ian Cheshire, chief executive of B&Q owner Kingfisher plc, has called for annual international forestry talks with the target of zero net global deforestation by 2020.
Mr Cheshire made his proposal last week at the Forest Stewardship Council General Assembly Forest Conference in Malaysia.
He said that maintaining the forest was in the interest of his company, which also owns French DIY giant Castorama, because 30% of its products, adding up to 16,000 in every store, included timber in some form.
“It’s not the only determinant, but we’re engaged to create a more sustainable business model and for business to be a force for good in this,” he said. “And we think we can call for action potentially in a way that politicians and NGOs might find a bit harder.”
Mr Cheshire said his definition of ‘zero net deforestation’ would not block economic and social progress.
“It means we’re looking to maintain the total hectarage covered by forest. We’re not saying absolutely zero deforestation at all as there has to be development and change. But the total area after reforestation will remain stable.”
The annual forestry talks, he said, would put a “concrete set of mechanisms in place to translate pledges into actions”.
