the wood and wood products industry
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Trade Association?
Trade Associations represent their members’ interests. They carry out activities that would be difficult or impossible for any single company, no matter how large, to undertake alone. In addition, they provide a means by which companies that are normally in competition can work together for the general good.Who does the TTF represent?
The TTF represents the timber industry in the UK. Timber is used for building, making furniture, packaging, transport, making tools, decorating and a host of other uses. Here are a few facts:• The UK consumed between 17 and 18 million m3 of wood and panel products each year before the most recent economic downturn. Volume in 2009 is expected to be in the range from 14 to 15 million cubic metres. That’s roughly 140,000 double-decker buses. Placed end to end this convoy would stretch from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
• Of UK consumption, approximately two thirds is supplied by imports and the remainin is produced in the UK.
• In total, Europe supplies 84% of all wood and wood products imported into the UK. A Timber Industry Factsheet is available from jrennie@ttf.co.uk Tel: 020 7291 5372.
What does the TTF do for its Members?
The TTF represents the views and interests of its members to civil servants, politicians, regulators and other key individuals and organisations (including NGOs) locally, nationally and internationally (particularly at EU level). The dialogue is not one-way – the Government approaches us for views on any important issues likely to affect our sector. We also provide data to the Government and other businesses to influence their own decision-making processes.
We aim to promote a positive image of timber and provide regular news and information to the media. When timber is in the news, we provide an authoritative spokesperson. We also continue to work with those suppliers in countries with deforestation problems. We are now part of a consortium that has been granted €7 million to help those countries improve the standards of their forest management. We are now already on the ground in Africa, South America and Asia doing just that.
We provide statistics and authoritative information. For example, we give guidance on new legislation, new regulations and other technical, legal and commercial developments that affect our members’ businesses.
We have a growing list of business support initiatives to offer our members, for example, discounts on advice and action services for Health and Safety; Personnel and Employment Law; Chain of Custody and credit insurance, as well as internationally recognised contract forms.
To learn more about membership, please contact Jean Rennie, jrennie@ttf.co.uk Tel: 020 7291 5372.
Why should I choose Wood?
• Wood is the most sustainable and only renewable mainstream building material known to man. Sustainably managed forests can supply the world forever. Wood literally grows on trees• The vast majority of wood purchased in the UK comes from sustainably managed or well-managed forests
• To prevent illegal products entering the supply chain a number of certification schemes are available to give evidence of legality and sustainability. The two major schemes are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Others include the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) and the Canadian Standards Authority (CSA). The Malaysian Timber Council Certification Scheme (MTCS) currently gives evidence of legality only
• Nearly 60% of wood used in the UK is certified, and where it isn’t, schemes such as the TTF’s Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) can be used to minimise the risk of illegal timber entering the supply chain
• Wood also fights climate change. Roughly every cubic metre growth of a tree absorbs 1 tonne of carbon, which remains locked up when the tree is used to make wood and wood products. This can be stored for centuries
• Wood is easily recycled
• Wood can be used as a bio-fuel
I am convinced, so far, but what is Sustainable Forest Management?
Sustainable Forest Management as laid down by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, is, “The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.”I’ve heard of Chain of Custody but exactly what does it mean?
Chain of Custody is a written assessment from an independent qualified expert of the wood flow accounting system to trace the flow of wood from forests to an end-user. To sell certified timber, you will need a Chain of Custody certificate and, of course, a supply of timber from a certified forest.
What does certification mean?
Certification is an independently audited way of establishing that a forest has been well managed. It verifies, in writing, that the forest management practices comply with a series of collectively agreed performance standards. Most forests in Europe, the main source of timber imports for the UK, are certified. Initiatives such as the Tropical Timber Action Plan jointly funded by TTF members and EU are actively working to increase the uptake of certification in the Tropics. There are two global certification schemes:
PEFC
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third-party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests. PEFC is a global umbrella organisation for the assessment and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. These national schemes are based on the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of on-going mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world, covering 85% of the world’s forest area.
A number of other schemes have been endorsed by the PEFC Council as meeting their requirements for forest certification schemes. The members of these schemes are listed on the PEFC International website at www.pefc.org/internet/html/members_schemes.htm
FSC
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network to promote responsible management of the world’s forests. It accredits independent third-party organisations that can certify forest managers and forest products manufacturers to FSC standards. Its trademark provides international recognition to organisations that support the growth of responsible forest management. Over the past 10 years, 100 million hectares in more than 81 countries have been certified according to FSC standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC certified wood. FSC operates through its network of National Initiatives in more than 46 countries.
The above mentioned are just a few of the many established schemes.
How does this certified timber come to the UK market?
Both FSC and PEFC operate Chain of Custody systems. Chain of Custody involves a written assessment from an independent qualified expert of the wood flow accounting systems, of each company in the supply chain to ensure they can trace the flow of timber from certified forests in and out of their company operations without it being mixed with uncertified timber. To sell certified timber, you will need a Chain of Custody certificate and, of course, a supply of timber from a certified forest.What about uncertified timber? How can I buy this responsibly?
Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP)
Where certified or legally verified timber is unavailable members source their timber under the TTF's RPP or equivalent system. The Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) is a management system which a company uses to assess products for evidence of legality and sustainability of supply, and encourages suppliers to improve their sourcing practices. This evidence is independently audited with the aim of increasing the amount of independently verified legal and sustainable timber entering the UK market.
The UK government has recognised that the RPP is an excellent example of industry good practice in the sourcing of legal and sustainable timber.
It is fully supported by the UK government and Elliot Morley, former Minister for Environmental Protection, said of the scheme, “We must all play a part in promoting the sourcing of legal and sustainable timber. The Timber Trade Federation’s Responsible Purchasing Policy is an excellent example of industry good practice in this endeavour and I recommend it wholeheartedly.”
How can I find a supplier that I can trust?
One of the safest ways to ensure that you purchase timber responsibly is by choosing a TTF member. The TTF members listed here, are thoroughly vetted and have to provide authenticated evidence of their credentials.
All Timber Trade Federation members agree to abide by the Code of Conduct. The Code sets out the principles by which members agree to behave. This involves a commitment to trade fairly and responsibly. Members will not knowingly misrepresent facts or mislead any customer or supplier concerning any aspect of the goods and services they provide. They also agree to abide by our specific Codes of Practice.
Members commit to conducting business in a professional manner, selling their services and products in accordance with the relevant Codes of Practice contained within the Code of Conduct.
All members are required to demonstrate they have a due diligence process, i.e. Responsible Purchasing Policy in place to ensure that they are taking all possible steps to minimise their impact on the environment and source their timber and timber products responsibly.
