Regulations? Think investment, not burden

At 140 years old, TTJ is 19 years older than the Timber Trade Federation (TTF). Some of the area associations go back further and a number of timber companies are many generations older. It's incredible that they have a pedigree that stretches back into the Victorian era and beyond.

We have come a long way. Technology, ethics, legislation, wealth, and equality have all improved. Yet the fundamentals of the material from which we ultimately derive our living have remained constant. Wood was, is and will be the most environmentally beneficial material known to mankind. So why isn't everything made from wood?

We haven't adapted to the new business realities that have challenged us, either quickly enough or far enough.

For example: resistance to certification. Illegal logging was taking place in the world, with high-profile campaigns against it, but most of the wood we bought was sustainably grown. We allowed the former to impugn the reputation of the latter and our competing building materials had a field day. It was the same with the TTF's Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) and due diligence in the early days. The EUTR and the RPP have essentially removed the environmental risk for our customers, allowing us to build demand.

Constant complaints about the falsity of claims are similar. Negative campaigning only makes us look like cowboys. Again our reputation is damaged and we lend credence to the claims of competing building materials. The Construction Products Regulation gives us an opportunity to end this.

Finally, our customers are increasingly demanding proof that their suppliers are "doing the right thing".

Whether this is focused on employment practices, health and safety policies, or what we are doing to lower the carbon footprint of our companies and our supply chain, they will be looking for proof. Just like certification and due diligence, we have to prove what we are doing and present it in the format they require.

Yes it costs, but what is the cost of not doing what the customer wants? Think of it as an investment. An investment for the industry to survive another 140 years.