PEFC UK is stepping up its campaign to raise awareness of certification schemes with the appointment of lobbying specialist Bellenden Public Affairs (BPA).
BPA will be tasked with conducting a programme of “high level strategic political engagement” aimed at highlighting the role certification schemes can play in reducing the amount of unsustainable wood products entering the UK market.
As part of what it calls its “outreach programme”, Bellenden will call for wider promotion and implementation of the government’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET) process.
CPET recognises both the PEFC and FSC certification schemes as providing equivalent assurances of legal and sustainable sourcing.
“It is vital that we raise recognition of certification with political audiences in order to increase use of CPET by government bodies,” said Bellenden’s managing director Mark Glover.