As DEFRA launches a consultation on licensed timber imports* B&Q announces that it will now only buy FSC certified tropical hardwood plywood. Certification for B&Q’s entire supply of tropical plywood is a global first as historically it has been difficult to secure FSC certification for this volume.
From this month all B&Q’s tropical hardwood plywood, which is sourced from community owned and private forests in Brazil, will be FSC certified with the FSC logo clearly displayed in store – the recognized standard for responsible forestry. FSC certified products are sourced from sustainable and well-managed forests to ensure that the use of the material does not damage forests, harm wildlife or jeopardise the future of people whose lives depend on the forests.
Julia Griffin, Timber Advisor for B&Q said: "All B&Q wood products are sourced sustainably and we are delighted to be the first retailer to gain FSC certification for all our tropical plywood. Now those looking for fully certified tropical plywood will have an easy way to get hold of what they need."
B&Q believes that this plywood will not only be of interest to consumers looking for responsibly sourced materials for their home renovation but also for those working on behalf of the Government who, since 1st April this year, have had to use timber from approved sources.
B&Q's tropical plywood is sourced from Acre, Brazil’s westernmost state. This area of the Amazon has been a major focus for environmental associations such as WWF Brazil and Greenpeace to help create responsible markets for sustainable activities and help local communities gain FSC certification. There are 370 families involved in the community forestry projects surrounding the production of B&Q’s tropical plywood supply and with the retailer requiring hundreds of thousands of sheets of tropical hardwood plywood a year it is hoped that the projects will expand to include a further 300 families.
The mill where the tropical plywood is created opened in 2006 and is self sufficient in energy as waste wood product is burnt to create energy.
* DEFRA launches its consultation on licensed timber imports on 14th September
There are three different types of plywood:
• tropical hardwood
• temperate hardwood
• softwood; pine and spruce
This announcement is specifically about tropical hardwood throughout plywood, which is sourced from forests in the Amazon region. Until now some FSC certified tropical hardwood plywood has been available from retailers but none have secured certification for their entire supply in such volumes.
From this month all B&Q’s tropical hardwood plywood, which is sourced from community owned and private forests in Brazil, will be FSC certified with the FSC logo clearly displayed in store – the recognized standard for responsible forestry. FSC certified products are sourced from sustainable and well-managed forests to ensure that the use of the material does not damage forests, harm wildlife or jeopardise the future of people whose lives depend on the forests.
Julia Griffin, Timber Advisor for B&Q said: "All B&Q wood products are sourced sustainably and we are delighted to be the first retailer to gain FSC certification for all our tropical plywood. Now those looking for fully certified tropical plywood will have an easy way to get hold of what they need."
B&Q believes that this plywood will not only be of interest to consumers looking for responsibly sourced materials for their home renovation but also for those working on behalf of the Government who, since 1st April this year, have had to use timber from approved sources.
B&Q's tropical plywood is sourced from Acre, Brazil’s westernmost state. This area of the Amazon has been a major focus for environmental associations such as WWF Brazil and Greenpeace to help create responsible markets for sustainable activities and help local communities gain FSC certification. There are 370 families involved in the community forestry projects surrounding the production of B&Q’s tropical plywood supply and with the retailer requiring hundreds of thousands of sheets of tropical hardwood plywood a year it is hoped that the projects will expand to include a further 300 families.
The mill where the tropical plywood is created opened in 2006 and is self sufficient in energy as waste wood product is burnt to create energy.
* DEFRA launches its consultation on licensed timber imports on 14th September
There are three different types of plywood:
• tropical hardwood
• temperate hardwood
• softwood; pine and spruce
This announcement is specifically about tropical hardwood throughout plywood, which is sourced from forests in the Amazon region. Until now some FSC certified tropical hardwood plywood has been available from retailers but none have secured certification for their entire supply in such volumes.
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