John White, Chief Executive of the Timber Trade Federation offers his advice to buyers

John is a member of the Reference Board advising Defra on matters concerning the Government’s timber procurement policy. Representing the major timber importers in the UK, the TTF are very active in promoting the use of legal and sustainable timber by providing tools and expert advice to their members who include merchants, retailers and banks along with timber traders and UK Producers. John says “We view the Governments timber procurement policy as one of the key incentives to implement a responsible purchasing policy in the market place. So part of our service is to help members meet these requirements, especially as the Government sets the policy that many of the customers follow.”

The TTF have recently published some figures with regard to timber imports. Notably softwood and softwood plywood imports have risen in 2007, which is encouraging as in 2006 an independent report commissioned by the TTF, estimated that over 80% of softwood and almost 50% of softwood plywood entering the UK was certified and is growing and 98% of the UK softwood import comes from Europe.

The main lack of supply of certified products is in the hardwood and hardwood plywood markets. This is mainly because getting tropical hardwood forests certified is much more difficult and needs much more resource. This then means that certified products on a like for like basis are usually more expensive in the market. But as John says, “The greater the demand for certified products, the more suppliers are encouraged to get certified and ultimately simple economics means that prices will go down. However research shows customers are paying on average a higher premium of 2-8% for certified timber. Also we always encourage buyers to be flexible and look at the full range of wood products available rather than sticking with the same old specifications. For instance swapping hardwood plywood for softwood plywood or OSB often gives a more cost effective alternative but also substantially increases the opportunities for certified products. So we support both public and private sector efforts to demand legal and sustainable timber, it is important to our trade.”

The figures published by the TTF also show that 2007 saw a continuing increase in import of Chinese plywood. This would mainly be used as hoardings and other low strength requirements but has been the subject of environmental campaigns. John adds, “We have issued guidance to our members for purchasing Chinese plywood and we advise them to ask some tough questions using our Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) questionnaire; where does the timber come from, what species are used? And if it is claiming to be certified, check this out with FSC direct, as only FSC certified products exists in China.” 

On the last point John explains a little further, “Doubts were raised on the use of FSC certificates by some Chinese suppliers. We informed FSC international and supported their efforts in an investigation which did show some non-conformities and with their help issued guidance to our members.”

The TTF have helped set up programmes such as the Timber Trade Action Plan. This is an EU funded project that supports producers in their efforts to get independently verified legal timber and help them on the way to being certified – China is one country in that programme.

For further information on the Timber Trade Federation and their activities go to www.ttf.co.uk or contact John direct on jwhite@ttf.co.uk