Jewson and Travis Perkins were among traders named in a report, by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Indonesian partner group Telepak, as offering flooring allegedly made using illegally logged merbau. The flooring brands named in the report “Behind the Veneer” are Junckers, Bruce Armstrong, Kährs and Tarkett.
However, a Jewson spokesperson responded: “Jewson has never stocked Junckers and Armstrong merbau flooring in any of its branches and this product does not form part of the company’s core product range. As such it has never been marketed or promoted by Jewson.”
Jewson said the product had been supplied in the past on a specific request basis. But it has immediately ceased trading the product following the allegations and is checking legality of other flooring offered by Junckers and Armstrong.
Travis Perkins also said it did not stock merbau flooring but it had sold a small amount to one customer last year on a request basis. It will stop any further sales while an investigation is carried out.
Meanwhile, Junckers has sent a senior management team to Malaysia to investigate the EIA/Telepak claims.
Mike Sharkey, managing director of Witham-based Junckers Ltd, said: “We believe that our purchasing process for merbau is in accordance with all current guidelines and recommendations, legislation and certification. However, since very serious allegations have been made against our supplier in Malaysia, we shall take all necessary action to investigate.”
Kährs UK said it was shocked at the weakness in the merbau raw material supply chain. The company, which has launched an investigation into the claims, said it has always received supplier assurance about the sustainability of its timber.
The EIA claims that the mebau used is illegally sourced from the Papua Province of Indonesia.
