Timbmet Silverman, Travis Perkins and Crown Timber have all resigned from the Timber Trade Federation (TTF).
Timbmet Silverman chief executive Simon Fineman said withdrawal from the TTF was a “sad but necessary decision”.
“We have been concerned about the value provided by the TTF for some time, particularly during its recent upheavals.” He said that concern was amplified by the TTF’s decision not to make the Responsible Purchasing Policy mandatory for members.
Mr Fineman said the company would review its decision on an annual basis and added: “We still support the need for a professional, unified timber industry trade body, capable of representing the industry’s best interests and we will continue to support other industry initiatives, such as wood. for good.”
Travis Perkins director of strategic planning Dr Ian Goldsmith said: “Our resignation became effective at the end of last year. The main reason was straightforward value for money in terms of we can provide for ourselves what was being provided by the TTF .”
A spokesperson at Crown Timber confirmed that the company’s resignation also became effective on December 31, 2004.
TTF head of public affairs Mark O’Brien said: “We fully intend to keep the lines of communication between the TTF and former members open and hope to persuade them of the merits of rejoining in the future. Our new chief executive, John White, intends to make membership relations a priority, which means retention as well as recuritment.”
And TTF president John Tong said: “If I was losing members for the same reason, and we were doing nothing about it, I would be more concerned – but all these companies have their different reasons for leaving and have not gone with any ill will, and we hope they may come back in again.”