Three to dos
Get informed, boycott illegal products, give the right advice
Timber trade and wood-processing craft are the link between consumers and the forest or a region, timber is sourced from. Nowadays with climate change and forest destruction on the daily agenda, consumers want make sure that wooden products, they purchase are not causing environmental damage. With the logistical efforts to transfer wooden products around the globe into European homes, consumers expect to get delivered appropriate information about origin and sustainability as well. Additionally everyone knows that combating illegal and unsustainable practices in the timber business depends on transparency from all involved.
The ones trading in timber and/or working with wood, have the knowledge: about origin, technical properties, prices, field of application, to mention some points. But do you also know about the circumstances of harvest and which way the log has taken to its first processing? What have you been told about local economic and social framework? Would you sell or work with blood-timber, because it is sourced from a conflict region?
How else could one normalize the ongoing destruction of forests driven mainly by out of control trade, if not by trade itself? To achieve this, it takes three steps:
- Get informed.
- Boycott timber from unsustainable or illegal sources.
- Give adequate advice.
Take a look, ask questions
What can timber purchasers, sales staff and timber traders do?
As a purchaser you determine which products are traded. You have access to information about the origin of timber and the conditions under which it was produced (or you can request information from the supplier), information that is often kept from consumers.
From the consumers point of view the sales staff are the only responsible link between them and the forest.
Make the right decision when chosing timber and timber products for your supply – help to stop destructive logging and/or illegal trade!
- Ensure binding verification of origin and legality of your timber products
- Demand legality and sustainability from your suppliers, insist on verification
- Offer comparable products from native timber species.
- Prefer certified wood; the FSC label should be minimum standard
- Be prepared for questions and reply in a way which encourages consumers to make the right decision for the protection of forests.
