The BRE has agreed to accept timber certification organisations on an equal basis for its EcoHomes credit rating system.
The Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Canadian Standards Association, the Malaysian Timber Certification Council‘s scheme and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative will be treated equally until a stringent comparative assessment is completed, probably by May 2005.
The change, BRE said, is in line with the government’s ongoing Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement study and recognises changes in the forestry and timber sector.
To develop timber credits further, the BRE has formed an advisory group on certification, including representatives from the forest and timber industry, certification schemes, NGOs, developers and organisations which use EcoHomes to set environmental standards.
BRE said: “The BRE is confident that this participatory approach will allow all players to reach a consensus on the future direction of EcoHomes credits in support of the use of timber in construction.”
