A major UK-based manufacturer of teak garden furniture is to no longer source timber from Burma.
Britannic Garden Furniture, which supplies the Royal Parks, Tower of London and the MoD, said EU and US trade sanctions had forced it to cease imports from Burma.
Although the company uses other FSC hardwoods, the majority of its garden and street furniture will continue to be made in teak.
The move will almost double raw material costs, said works manager Roger Potter, but will introduce mostly Forest Stewardship Council alternative supplies.
Mr Potter said: “You can’t beat teak and Burmese is the best. We looked at oak, but the costs are still more or less the same because we have to work it more. We had to spend some time looking for alternative supplies and basically I can still get teak if I am willing to pay for it.”
The company has sourced and tested sample alternative supplies from Tanzania, Sudan, Somalia and other other areas in Asia, which were mostly FSC. He said costs were £80-90ft3, compared with the present £40-45.
The switch will be completed by July.
Britannic employs 12 people in its CNC-equipped workshops in Alevston, near Bristol.
