Why we’re investing in sustainability
The stark fact is – If forests didn’t exist, neither would we.
Forests are the air fresheners of the world - absorbing carbon dioxide and giving us the oxygen we need in return - a process that helps to regulate the global climate and absorb nearly 40% of all human fossil-fuel emissions.
But these, and many more, assets are put at risk by irresponsible and unsustainable logging. Millions of hectares of forest are sacrificed each year to human consumption, and yet demand is still growing.
That’s why we make sure we recycle all our offcuts and sawdust, and only use wood that we know to have been sustainably logged. We also only use plywood and veneers that have been approved by the FSC; an organisation that we’re proud to support.
Who are the FSC?
The FSC are a non-profit organisation that promotes the sustainable management of forests worldwide.
The global FSC standard is comprised of certain principles that cover a range of rigorous environmental, social, and economic criteria. Although there are regional variations in how the standard is applied, these are the basic tenets of sustainable forestry that they support:
1. Establish Protected Areas & Conserve Biodiversity
FSC - approved forest managers avoid using pesticides or other environmentally damaging behaviours in order to conserve native species and protect the genetic diversity of the land.
2. Prevent Forest Conversion & Protect High Value Forests
The FSC standard requires that natural forests be protected against deforestation, fires, and that forests that are particularly valuable in terms of biodiversity or the local community’s dependence on them are particularly protected.
3. Have a Management Plan & Harvest Accordingly
To become certified, forestry operations must have a clearly thought-out management plan that specifies which trees can be harvested and when, based on the growth and regeneration rates of the species found in that ecosystem.
4. Use Reduced-Impact Logging Techniques
Reduced-impact techniques harvest timber without causing damage to other parts of the forest. This approach also minimises erosion, waste, and carbon emissions.
5. Taking Care of Employees
Well-trained and healthy employees are essential to ensure operations function safely and efficiently. FSC-approved companies are more likely to offer employees safety courses and medical assistance, among other things.
6. Foster Development in Local Communities
A certified business must contribute to the social and economic development of a community by offering its members opportunities for employment and compensating indigenous groups for their contributions.
7. Boost Income and Profitability
Sustainable forestry should have a positive economic impact on its practitioners, as well as boosting the local community and fostering responsible working practices.
A study of 11 FSC-certified forestry enterprises around the world found that FSC-certified wood generated price premiums of up to 50%, directly benefiting communities and small-scale producers.