Willamette Europe predicts increased use of its Medite MDF brand among large-scale DIY retailers and specifiers now it has achieved Forest Stewardship Council recognition.
FSC eco-labels will appear on all seven types of Medite products in the coming weeks following FSC accreditation of Coillte, the supplier of raw material to the Clonmel Medite plant in Ireland.
A rigorous assessment, which started more than a year ago, has resulted in 1.1 million acres of Coillte forest being FSC-approved.
Willamette Europe’s UK sales manager Malcolm Cowley said the eco-labelling may open sales opportunities to the likes of B&Q and Focus Do It All.
He said: ‘It allows DIY retailers the freedom to choose Medite in the future. It was a lot more difficult previously without the FSC.’
Willamette’s marketing and sales director Geoff Rhodes added: ‘There is an increasing number of professional specifiers, as well as leading DIY supermarkets, and retailers, who, quite rightly, will only accept wood products that have been independently certified.’
Adrian Summer, group purchasing director of Timbmet, which has a long history of selling Medite MDF, said: ‘I am sure that this new certification will help boost sales.’
Willamette also hopes French forestry resources for its two other board-producing operations – Mediland (MDF) and Darbo (particleboard) – will be certified under Pan European Forest Certification.