DIY Retailer Commits to FSC Chain of Custody
The largest DIY retailer in the U.K., B&Q has signed a deal with the certification body SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, to certify its key stores to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody standards.
The largest DIY retailer in the U.K., B&Q has signed a deal with the certification body SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance, to certify its key stores to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody standards. B&Q is targeting business customers such as government and local authority purchasing departments as well as general trade customers who are increasingly demanding timber and manufactured wooden products from well-managed forests.
Mike Cartwright, B&Q's business-to-business manager said: "The key benefit to our business customers is to have the evidence to promote FSC certified products they buy from B&Q as traceable from the store right back to the forest."
Anna Jenkins, director of FSC U.K., said: "B&Q has shown unwavering support for the FSC system since its inception a decade ago. By taking this step B&Q will further strengthen their commitment to source all timber and timber products from well managed forests. With chain of custody certification B&Q will be able to supply material to certified contractors for FSC projects, providing a welcome addition to the U.K. supply chain."
For well over a decade B&Q has spearheaded a program to ensure its timber-based products are from well-managed resources and was the first retailer to be involved in the FSC. B&Q believes that the Forest Stewardship Council has the best standards and certification procedures, a view echoed by the U.K. Government Center of Excellence for Timber (CPET). CPET has recently approved FSC the rubber stamp as one of only two schemes worldwide to certify timber as sustainable and legal.
Tensie Whelan, the executive director of the Rainforest Alliance, noted that B&Q's commitment sets a high standard for retailers, not just in the U.K. but worldwide. "B&Q's agreement with the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program is a vivid sign to consumers that the company is serious about its commitment to ensure forest sustainability," she said.
B&Q expects to achieve certification in the first half of 2005.
Mike Cartwright, B&Q's business-to-business manager said: "The key benefit to our business customers is to have the evidence to promote FSC certified products they buy from B&Q as traceable from the store right back to the forest."
Anna Jenkins, director of FSC U.K., said: "B&Q has shown unwavering support for the FSC system since its inception a decade ago. By taking this step B&Q will further strengthen their commitment to source all timber and timber products from well managed forests. With chain of custody certification B&Q will be able to supply material to certified contractors for FSC projects, providing a welcome addition to the U.K. supply chain."
For well over a decade B&Q has spearheaded a program to ensure its timber-based products are from well-managed resources and was the first retailer to be involved in the FSC. B&Q believes that the Forest Stewardship Council has the best standards and certification procedures, a view echoed by the U.K. Government Center of Excellence for Timber (CPET). CPET has recently approved FSC the rubber stamp as one of only two schemes worldwide to certify timber as sustainable and legal.
Tensie Whelan, the executive director of the Rainforest Alliance, noted that B&Q's commitment sets a high standard for retailers, not just in the U.K. but worldwide. "B&Q's agreement with the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program is a vivid sign to consumers that the company is serious about its commitment to ensure forest sustainability," she said.
B&Q expects to achieve certification in the first half of 2005.
