Laver's sign up to green timber scheme

Arnold Laver Timber World has stepped up its environmental commitment by signing up to a pioneering new purchasing agreement.

The national timber merchant has become one of the first Timber Trade Federation (TTF) members to sign up for the organisation's Responsible Purchasing Policy.

The policy was launched earlier this year to offer TTF members a way of demonstrating their environmental commitment by providing them with a tool to assess their suppliers' performance.

In order to sign up, Timber World staff have to prove they obtain as much raw material as possible which has been independently verified as legal and sustainable by a third party such as the Forest Stewardship Council or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry Certification.

They are also required to assess their suppliers environmental responsibilities based on a series of questionnaires and documentary evidence before rating them as high, medium or low risk.

Timber World will then cease trading with all high-risk suppliers and work with medium risk suppliers to help them to become low risk - with the ultimate aim of providing 100% independently certified stocks.

Pat Burke, Arnold Laver's group purchasing director, said: "Arnold Laver has a very strong culture of corporate responsibility and we firmly believe in prioritising environmental issues.

"We feel it is our responsibility to the environment to obtain and supply an ever-increasing proportion of legally and sustainable produced timber products.

"By signing up to the Responsible Purchasing Policy, it will enable us to provide our customers with the peace of mind that the supply chain for our timber has been thoroughly examined from forest floor to front door."