Welsh builders merchant Huws Gray has gained Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification on machined softwood products.

The company, which has more than 30 branches covering north Wales and north-west England, announced the award on ‘FSC Friday’, a global initiative to promote sustainable forest management.

“Builders, local authorities and housing associations increasingly require certified timber,” said Huws Gray business development manager Dafydd Williams. “FSC chain of custody means that Huws Gray customers can now obtain a core range of machined softwood products from our branches.”

The company was helped in preparing for FSC certification by SCA Timber Supply, whose forests passed a decade of FSC forest management certification earlier this year.

SCA’s environment & QA manager Bob Bastow, said: “Many pre-qualification tendering questionnaires for local authority and housing association ask for details of timber certification among the required environmental and social criteria.

“In today’s tough market, it’s even more important for merchants like Huws Gray to give themselves every possible chance when competing for this valuable business.”