More than 50% of the chain’s home products are timber and M&S said at the Plan A launch in January that it would source only from Forest Stewardship Council or equivalent when not available.
A spokesperson for the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes confirmed it held talks to be included as a certifier, but no breakthrough had been made.
“PEFC is concerned that the efforts of responsible traders to promote sustainable forest management are not being rewarded by M&S and so will continue its talks with M&S about this issue,” he said. “To date only 7% of the world’s forests are certified and to exclude PEFC as the world’s largest resource of certified wood restricts a company’s options.”
M&S has now started heavily promoting Plan A and raising its green profile. The company styled the Jeld-Wen showhouse at the Ideal Home Show, which was timber frame and eco-friendly. A new series of press adverts appeared this week.
The company’s use of timber extends from bed frames to dining tables, chef blocks to kitchen chairs. Insiders said M&S would talk to all sources, but would have to be convinced the timber was sustainable.
A spokesperson said: “We are introducing a range of garden furniture which is 90% FSC certified and we aim to be FSC certified across the board by 2012. We will use timber from other sources and other certification schemes, but as a last resort.”
