If consumers want environmentally certified products they must be prepared to pay for them according to Mike Cater, president of the Plywood Club of London
Speaking at the club’s 50th annual dinner, Mr Cater said the panel industry faced two key issues – environmental certification and CE marking.
The environmental cause, he said, had strong support from the timber trade, but suppliers were faced with certification and administration costs plus the often higher cost of raw material coming from certified areas abroad. He asked: “Who will pay? We are told that there is considerable reluctance by consumers to pay more money for certified product. This must change for it’s all very well supporting environmental action but we have to pay a price and we, the panel products trade, have a responsibility to make this quite clear to all consumers.”
CE marking, he said, involved similar cost issues and the industry was faced with a good proportion of its bread and butter products being unable to conform.
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“It’s all very well supporting environmental action but we have to pay a price and we, the panel products trade, have a responsibility to make this quite clear to all consumers” |
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Mike Cater, Plywood Club of London |
Mr Cater said members must know their subject and be in a position to advise buyers and anyone in doubt should contact industry expert Nick Boulton at The Timber Trade Federation.
Club chairman Ken Edwards said that the Plywood Club of London was thriving and reminded members that there was a full diary of events planned for the new year.
An auction raised £2,000 and money raised from a raffle will add a substantial amount for donation to local charities.
