Legal & Sustainable Timber

What is Legal & Sustainable Timber & Why does it matter that it is independantly verifiable?

 It is very hard to know when you buy or specify timber and timber products where they come from and whether they originated from illegal logging operations that are doing so much harm to both global and local environments.

This is particulaly true with hardwoods.  Independant verification, chain of custody schemes, of which Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) is the most widely know, make sure that the timber used is traceable right back to the forest of origin.

Another well known and respected scheme is PEFC.

How do I know Pendock has FSC accreditation and offers chain of custody on products?

By going to the FSC website you can search for either Alumasc Interior Building Products, our company name or our certificate number TT-COC-002842.

What are the UK Government Requirements and Commitments on legal & sustainable timber?

Very simple, if timber or timber products are not independantly verifiably legal and sustainable from 1st April 2009 they are not allowed on publically funded projects.

The UK Government Timber Procurement Policy States

1. Timber Procurement Policy
The new UK Government timber procurement policy requires that:
From 1st April 2009, only timber and timber products originating either from independently
verifiable legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed Forest Law Enforcement,
Governance and Trade (FLEGT) partner will be demanded for use on the Government estate –
appropriate documentation will be required to prove it.1 From 1 April 2015 only legal and
sustainable timber would be demanded.
By licensed ‘FLEGT partner’ is meant a timber-producing country that has signed up to a bilateral
Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the European Community concerning the EU’s Forest Law
Enforcement, Governance and Trade scheme and whose timber and wood-derived products have
been licensed for export by that country’s government (please see section 2.2.3 below for further
information).
1.1 Scope of application of the policy
The policy applies to all central government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental
public bodies (NDPBs) in England (referred to in this Note as “Contracting Authorities”). Any such
body receiving government funds is mandated to follow the timber procurement policy.

What does it mean if you buy timber or timber products without chain of custody?

CPET, the UK Government's Central Point of Expertise for Timber Procurement (CPET) comments.

"The UK Government’s Forest Governance and Trade Programme aims to tackle illegal logging, promote governance reforms in developing countries where illegal logging is a problem, and to improve the functioning of markets for legal and sustainable timber products. The timber procurement policy is a key element of this Programme, and requires all timber to be from legal sources, and where possible from sustainable sources."

Without independantly verifiable chain of custody you just do not know whether it is legal let alone sustainable. 

 Furthermore CPET makes it very clear what the consequences of not complying with Governement policy and contractural obligations.

"If the timber or wood products supplied are not compliant with the requirements of the public buyer, the contract clause ensures that the products will have to be replaced by compliant products at no cost and without delay to the completion of the contract."

Where can I check a company's credentials and find out more about buying legal & sustainable timber?

The FSC website has a database where you can search by company name, product of chain of custody (COC) number.

Do contractors and clients really care, surely in a recession its just price?

Emphatically yes they do care.  Public building procurement rules have been outlined above but companies like BAA, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, to name a few have very strong commitments to the environment and the sourcing of verifiably legal and sustainable timber and timber products.

Reputable contractors and merchants are equally commited and a number of architects even specify the certification scheme required.

As with all areas of construction rogue traders do exist but it is key that any concerns are communicated to the client immediately.