Rival groups slam PEFC endorsement

A showdown next month between environmentalists and the timber industry will clear confusion among contractors and suppliers on government projects, claims Len Yull, chairman of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certifi-cation Schemes (PEFC).
The fight for government endorsement between rival schemes has raged since Greenpeace activists invaded construction sites and removed PEFC timber last year (CJ 15 September 2004). Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Friends of the Earth back their own scheme, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and dismiss other schemes.
The government said it is ready to accept PEFC and US scheme Sustainable Forest Initiative as they meet its criteria as legal and sustainable.
However, Yull accused the government of dragging its heels after it postponed its decision for two months until it met environmentalists. "It could have been done by Christmas," he said.
Greenpeace forest campaigner Nathan Argent said: "We're going to express our concern about PEFC being classed as both legal and sustainable. We don't think it should have an endorsement."
Yull warned that the argument is damaging the timber industry. He said: "If Green-peace/FSC push too hard, they will lose the support of their stakeholders. People are making it so difficult and dragging it out so long that the steel boys are rubbing their hands with glee. We're driving people away from a sustainable material."
<25A0> PEFC raised fears that the government's recently-launched sustainable public procurement task force (CJ 2 June) may cause headaches for procurers.
The committee is headed by former Carillion chairman Sir Neville Simms, with representatives from the Building Research Establishment, recycling body WRAP and BAA. Environment-alists Jonathon Porritt and the FSC are also on the board.
Yull said the fight over timber certification could be repeated across all government procurement. He said: "There's a concern it is going to shadow the Depart-ment of Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs' decision to review PEFC's suitability. The WWF and Greenpeace are saying they want extra social issues included."