Legal Q&A: Timber procurement

How has the timber trade changed over recent years?

The industry outlook has changed dramatically. Major suppliers have adopted a responsible procurement programme and are much more aware of where they source their timber. For example, presently 56% of all the timber purchased by Jewson is from sources certified with Chain of Custody (CoC) from forests that the government defines as 'legal' or 'legal and sustainable'.

Jewson's aim is to reach 67% by the end of 2007 and substantially increase this year on year. This has been driven by the devastation that illegal harvesting can have on eco-systems and natural habitats, the detrimental impact that carbon emissions have on the environment and of course, an increased awareness of the carbon footprint.

With so many sources of timber available, how does the certification process work?

CoC certification depends on a rigorous auditing process that tracks the timber through every stage of its journey - from forest to point of use. This means that at every stage, from milling to the importation and distribution, you can be assured that the timber has originated from a certified source.

CoC documentation must be obtained from the supplier at the time of purchase and cannot be applied for in retrospect. All certified timber must be clearly identifiable and directly linked to the suppliers' documentation. This means that the invoice or delivery ticket must clearly show which items are certified and relate to the suppliers of the CoC certificate.

Who is responsible for regulating the process and what types of timber does it cover?

There are a number of approved schemes that provide CoC documentation. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) being the two principal schemes accounting for more than 90% of certified timber products sold in the UK.

Certification covers structural timber, machined softwood, clear softwoods, temperate hardwoods, MDF mouldings, I-Joists, roof trusses, fencing, decking and panel products, as well as finished joinery products such as doors and kitchen cabinets.

If certification needs to be requested at each stage of the supply chain, does this leave the system open to failure?

Jewson will purchase more than £200m of certified timber this year, however, less than 1% of customers will specifically request that their timber is certified. This suggests a lack of understanding within the construction industry and points to a need for better education within the sector.

Many subcontractors are unaware of how accessible accredited timber is and that it normally costs the same as non-certified products.

The education process needs to start with the specifiers and designers, who may be unaware that a certified alternative, which bears similar aesthetic properties as non-certified timber, is readily available. If certified timber is incorporated in the design process and non-certified timber is designed out, then the use of anything other than CoC timber would go against the designers' specifications. Also, by targeting groups involved at the very beginning of a project, a cascade of information down the supply chain would follow, as everyone would need to be made aware of its importance.

What does the future hold for the timber trade?

There has been huge change in the last four years and greater changes are yet to come. Already the majority of softwood is certified. Over the next five years, almost all of it will be certified and many of the gaps in sustainability will be filled.

The revised government Timber Procurement Policy, which was announced earlier this year, stipulates that all timber used in government projects must be from legally verified sources from 2009.

Planning rules will ultimately push initiatives such as the Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM's eco homes into the private sector.

Things are changing and it is only when these major changes have been made and tropical hardwoods have been substituted, that we will we be able to fully realise the full demand for certified timber. By counselling the end-user and making just a few changes to current practice, things could change substantially.