Certified timber made up 83.6% of all domestically produced and imported wood in 2008, a growth of 16.9% from three years ago, according to a survey conducted by The Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
The TTF, which said it conducted the research to provide clearer understanding of the levels of timber product certification in the UK, contacted 76 companies, of which 36 responded – a 47% response rate.
The level of certified timber and panel products in 2008 was estimated to have risen to 81.4% from 55.8% in 2005. Imported certified softwood lumber has seen the fastest growth, rising to more than 90% of all imported softwood (2005:58%).
UK sawmill consumption of certified softwood logs rose to 81.2% from 75.2% in 2005, while certified production increased to 75.4% fro 70.8%.
Certified softwood production from smaller mills rose to 11% to 36%.
PEFC’s share of certified imports was around 50%, while FSC had a 30% share. But FSC had the largest share for UK produced certified timber and panel products – rising 4% to 52%, with PEFC at 32% (2005:18%).
Specific requests for certified goods from customers of imports and distributors rose from around10% of sales in 2005 to more than 30% in 2008.
