WIREDGOV

The foremost organisation representing the timber trade in the UK has officially signed up to support WWF-UK’s Forest Campaign, allowing the campaign’s sustainability message to reach much of the UK’s timber industry. 

The 300 members of the Timber Trade Federation account for two thirds of the £8.9 billion UK timber industry. They range from sawmills to manufacturers, and from to distributors and retailers.

By signing up to the campaign, the Timber Trade Federation has made the following pledges; 

• To support the market to buy timber and timber products from sustainable sources by 2020, including making members’ aggregated performance public;

• To support the call for the EU to close the loopholes in the current EU Timber Regulation so that all timber and timber products must be from legal sources; and

• To support the call for the UK government and the EU to complete the transition to a market in sustainable timber and timber products by 2020.

To ensure the TTF plays a proactive role in supporting delivery of these pledges, it has agreed a number of more focused commitments to ensure the work undertaken on responsible sourcing over the past 10 years or so can be further developed to move the industry forward, including using its influence to encourage its many members to voluntarily make an individual declaration of support to the campaign. 

David Lennan, CEO of the TTF said, “The TTF has supported the campaign in principle since last summer however we wanted to make sure we played an active role in supporting delivery of the 2020 targets. 

Anand Punja, TTF Head of Sustainability has worked constructively with members and WWF to agree action-orientated commitments that can move the industry forward in the right direction.”

Julia Young, Manager of WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network Manager in the UK said “Trade bodies like the TTF can and do play a significant role in bringing about new business norms that create sustainable industries as well as sustainable forests. 

“The TTF’s commitment to the Forest Campaign is an excellent example of the evolution of an association’s role to encompass and encourage high standards of sustainability. We are very happy that the TTF continues to improve its own transparency on its membership’s sustainability progress, and look forward to ongoing collaboration on forest issues, whilst also welcoming individual leadership from among the membership to set the bar for others to be inspired by and learn from”.

The TTF joins over 40 other business signatories to the WWF Forests campaign, which span supermarkets, construction industry giants, and many others, who together it is hoped can make a huge improvement to the sustainability of timber and timber products in the UK and beyond.

For further information contact:
Rebecca Pain, rpain@wwf.org.uk T: +44 (0)1483 412303 | M: +44 (0)7971 149666

Notes to Editors:

WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive. Find out more about our work, past and present at www.wwf.org.uk .

The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) is at the centre of the UK’s timber industry with an impressive reputation. All members of the TTF have had to satisfy strict criteria before joining and can help solve any timber related issue you may have. Only those applicants that meet the TTF’s high standards are approved for membership. Once a company is approved for membership they have to observe the obligations contained in the TTF Code of Conduct.

The products offered by our members cover the entire range of timber-related activity, including softwoods, hardwoods and panel products. All these adhere strictly to current European Standards and Codes of Practice.. Any company buying from a member company of the TTF does so in the knowledge that they are dealing with a company committed to its products, the environment and to an exceptional standard of service.

The commitments the TTF have been agreed with both members and WWF support; 

• advancing the work the TTF already does in verifying and publishing overall member performance on responsible sourcing; 
• encouraging TTF members to voluntarily make an individual declaration of support to the campaign; and
• working in collaboration with WWF and other stakeholders to stimulate growth (demand and supply) of timber from sustainable sources. 
www.ttf.co.uk

The timber trade figure mentioned of £8.9m includes UK imports and exports, and is taken from the Forestry Commission website: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/beeh-9vvf6w