The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has questioned government ministers and other officials about a bias in London planning guidance towards Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified timber which could influence procurement for the 2012 Olympics.
TTF chief executive John White and corporate social responsibility adviser Andy Roby have raised the issue with the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC), environment minister Elliot Morley and under-secretary for international development Gareth Thomas.
Mr White said advice in London’s supplementary planning guidance which says new building projects should ensure 50% of timber is FSC-certified could force contractors to choose less sustainable building materials.
He said: “There are other ways of satisfying legality and sustainability. We do not want to put these barriers in the way of wood because the alternatives are far less sustainable than timber, which would be defeating the ethos of the whole Olympic project.”
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“We do not want to put barriers in the way of wood because the alternatives are far less sustainable than timber” |
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John White, TTF chief executive |
Mr White said LSDC co-chair Samantha Heath had understood the TTF’s message and had provided Olympics procurement process contacts.
“Our argument is that government procurement rules should be used (ie [as laid down by the] Central Point of Expertise on Timber). These are meant to apply to all government procurement and it is a key Olympics stakeholder.”
The TTF government delegation also told Mr Morely how the trade could help the government communicate the green procurement message to local authorities.
