Timber Trade Federation president Neil Donaldson has made a plea for non-signatories of the organisation’s Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) to sign up now.
Speaking at the Scottish Timber Trade Association’s biennial dinner in Edinburgh on Wednesday, Mr Donaldson described the RPP as “truly a good business tool”.
“From my own experience at Donaldsons I can tell you that we have won many contracts because we have signed up,” he said.
The TTF continued to be “at the heart” of Defra’s thinking on timber procurement and it was being widely consulted by major contractors who viewed the RPP as one of the “acceptable badges” of a company that they wish to do business with.
Mr Donaldson also reiterated his call for greater unity in the timber industry which, he said, would provide a clearer voice and save money.
“In Germany and Sweden there is now one organisation representing the wide range of timber issues. In time, I believe that the UK will need to follow suit,” he said.
The concrete industry’s proposed “super lobby” would have a budget of £10m. “That is what we are up against,” he said.