It forms part of its mission to boost European sales of certified sustainable tropical timber.
The STTC launched last year in response to long-term decline in overall tropical sales to Europe. Principally funded by the Dutch government-backed IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, it is supported by government and private sector backers across the EU, including the European Timber Trade Federation. Its aim is to boost certified tropical timber’s market share from the current 11% to 30% and create a more positive image for the tropical trade.
It argues that, unless the EU supports a sustainable industry in the tropics, producers could lose incentive to improve forest management and instead sell to other, less environmentally-concerned markets.
It has four working groups focused on marketing, legality and sustainability, technical issues and business encounters.
The latter targets trade events in association with supporters and at the Carrefour French federation Le Commerce du Bois, tropical timber organisation ATIBT, French tropical hardwood specialist Rougier and Spanish importer Garcia Varona distributed STTC literature.
According to the ITTO’s latest Tropical Timber Market Report, EU imports of tropical hardwood products in the first four months of 2014 fell another 1% to 1.385 million m3 in roundwood equivalent. Increased sales to the UK, Spain and France were offset by falls to other countries, notably Belgium and France.
