A Swaffham-based woodland business agency says it is helping develop the UK market for FSC-certified timber products by undertaking chain of custody monitoring and control for suppliers without the relevant accreditation.
Anglia Woodnet‘s service is designed to meet the shortfall in companies with FSC chain of custody certification, particularly manufacturers which it says are the ‘weak leak’ in the supply chain.
Currently companies handling more than 180,000 tonnes of timber annually are using the service and Anglia Woodnet says they are looking to invest £4.5m in expansion programmes as a result.
Outsourcing, which costs from £400 depending on the job, allows such companies to supply FSC products under the supervision of Anglia Woodnet, which tracks the timber from its certified woodland source, through manufacturing, to finished product.
The company conceived the idea when it was asked for FSC-certified oak roofing timbers for Southwark Cathedral’s restoration last year but was unable to find a processor with chain of custody.
It was then stung into action after architects attending the WWF 95+Group’s 10th anniversary last November (TTJ December 15/22, 2001) said they would specify FSC timber if the industry could supply it.
Elizabeth Osborn, certification consultant at Anglia Woodnet, said: ‘As an FSC-certified company, we are receiving an increasing number of requests for such products, requests which by-pass non-certified companies.’
Anna Jenkins of FSC UK said: ‘Their service to help meet customers’ demands for FSC-certified wood products, and at the same time help those companies without an FSC chain of custody certificate is of enormous benefit to the FSC system in the UK.’
Anglia Woodnet also operates a service for companies to obtain chain of custody.
