Coillte marks FSC decade with TV’s McCloud

Coillte, the Irish forestry company and producer of Medite MDF and Smartply OSB, marked 10 years of Forest Stewardship Council environmental certification yesterday with a special event hosted by TV presenter Kevin McCloud.

The celebration took place at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and was attended by 200 customers, contractors and stakeholders, in recognition, said Coillte, of their role in maintaining its environmental certification.

Coillte chief executive David Gunning said that FSC certification was a “demonstration of commitment to innovative and sustainable management of natural resources” and had helped the company increase Medite and Smartply sales to the UK and Europe.

“It has also been instrumental in the ability of our sawmill customers to grow their timber exports, with the UK again being a major market,” he said.

Kevin McCloud said he believed there was a “really positive outlook for the timber and timber products sector”.

“It has a major role to play in ensuring we have energy-efficient and truly sustainable homes, offices and other buildings,” he said.

At the same time, it was vital timber was “managed and harvested in accordance with sustainable principles”.

“Coillte’s FSC certification demonstrates their commitment to this approach – not just in theory but in practice,” he said.