The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has streamlined its chain of custody certification procedures – a move that should see more FSC-certified products coming onto the market.
The new guidelines will help single companies working across multiple sites gain chain of custody certification for handling FSC-certified timber and timber products.
The action, which allows companies to apply for one certificate to cover their operations at all sites, will particularly benefit multi-site trade suppliers.
The FSC’s UK director Anna Jenkins said the multi-site system would remove another barrier to certification and encourage a greater flow of FSC-certified products into the market place.
Travis Perkins plc, which has more than 500 sites across the UK, is currently seeking FSC chain of custody certification. Ian Goldsmith, group planning director, described the announcement as ‘a step forward’. He added: ‘It seems a good way to achieve chain of custody and I am sure it will encourage other people to come on board.
“This is a very positive development. Any change in policy that makes it easier for certified products to retain their certified status further through the supply chain must be of benefit to the trade.” |
Stephen Cope, marketing executive for Montague L Meyer Distribution |
‘I also think it will add to the amount of material that can be sold with chain of custody certification.’
Stephen Cope, marketing executive for Montague L Meyer Distribution, said: ‘This is a very positive development. Any change in policy that makes it easier for certified products to retain their certified status further through the supply chain must be of benefit to the trade. Consumers cannot make the choice between buying a certified or non-certified product if that product has lost its identity before it gets to them.
‘At present only the likes of the big DIY players are allowing their customers the choice at retail level. This new policy will allow builders merchants groups, for example, to follow sooner and at lower cost at which point the policy will help to inform consumers and raise demand for certified products.’