A score of major UK firms have signed up to the WWF Forest Campaign involving a pledge to buy all wood from sustainable sources by 2020. Argos, Boots, Carillion, Tesco and Marks & Spencer have all joined the campaign. Source: Supply Management
The campaign also aims to help end deforestation by closing loopholes in EU rules to prevent illegally logged timber entering the European Union.
“We all use products from the forests daily in our homes and at work, from the chairs we sit on to the books we read, and for businesses it’s essential to have a sustainable supply of materials, for now and tomorrow,” said Julia Young, manager of the WWF global forest and trade network UK.
“The businesses signing up know this and are taking action to ensure a future for our forests. It’s time for the government to make good on its promises to do the same.”
Homebase, Kingfisher, Kimberly Clark, Redrow Homes, and Travis Perkins are also signatories to the campaign, which along with a shift to 100% sustainable timber by 2020, is seeking to make changes to the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).
WWF said the EUTR, which aims to stop illegally logged timber entering the EU, contained loopholes that meant “less than 50% of the value of timber products coming into Europe are confirmed as coming from legal sources”.
The EUTR is due to be reviewed in 2015 and the campaign is calling on the government to push for changes “to ensure all timber products are covered”.
“We have along history of work with WWF and are pleased to support this campaign. It will be a critical step in helping secure the future of the world’s forests,” said Tom Berry, head of sustainability EMEA at Kimberly Clark.
