Greenpeace slams UK firms for using illegal plywood

Greenpeace has ordered construction firms to “clean up their act” after investigations found most UK firms use illegal and unsustainable timber.

A new report from the group says the “vast majority” of UK firms are contributing to the decline of natural forests by using tropical hardwood plywood.

The UK is Europe’s largest user of plywood, consuming 1.34m cubic metres of it – more than Germany and the Netherlands combined.

The World Wide Fund for Nature estimated in 2007 that the UK was the third largest importer of illegal timber in the world and spent £712m a year on illegal wood.

Greenpeace forest campaigner Mariana Paoli said: “Tropical forests are being destroyed to make way for throw-away products like plywood.

“It’s time for architects, specifiers and construction companies to clean up their act and we hope this report will provide the motivation for them to take action on this issue.”

The report ‘Setting a New Standard: alternatives to unsustainable plywood in the UK construction industry’ includes a guide to help companies avoid using illegal timber.

It urges people to use plywood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.