Wyevale Garden Centres plc has unveiled a new sourcing policy which commits the company to only buying timber from well-managed and legal sources carrying recognised certification.
The company, which Greenpeace recently targeted for stocking Burmese teak garden furniture and for allegedly selling products made from illegal rainforest timber, also intends to ensure all its wood is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or progressing towards FSC certification through the Tropical Forests Trust (TFT) by 2008.
Wyevale has formalised a partnership with the TFT, which has actively supported the company in developing the new policy.
The firm has also re-confirmed its earlier decision to cease purchasing timber products sourced from Burmese forests.
Greenpeace forest campaigner Nathan Argent said: “The rest of this sector needs to take urgent action to follow Wyevale’s lead and ensure that all their garden furniture comes from FSC certified sources.”
