Guidance for Universities & Colleges

Universities and colleges and sustainable timber procurement

In recent years there has been a clear need for universities to consider their environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint. Universities recognise the importance of the choices they make in buying products and the impacts on environmental and social aspects throughout the world. Many already buy fair trade products and have sustainable procurement policies.

There are simple steps to responsible timber purchasing which means universities and colleges can reduce their environmental footprint and make a significant contribution to protecting the world’s forests and the local communities they support. Buying timber doesn’t need to cost the earth.

How can universities and colleges reduce their impact on forests?

There are persistent myths that a sustainable procurement policy for timber will require a lot of work, will increase your purchasing costs and does not make a real difference. This is not the case! We believe that the following simple steps are effective in eliminating illegal and non-sustainable timber from the UK market and help to create an incentive for sustainable forest management worldwide.

• Step 1 Issue a clear policy stating that your institution aims to purchase only legal and sustainable or recycled timber and timber products. (You can write your own policy or simply adopt the UK Government policy.)
• For a definition of 'legal and sustainable timber' see here and for a definition of 'recycled timber' see here.
• For more information about the various timber products that should be covered by a policy, see here.

• Step 2 When purchasing, always ask for legal and sustainable forest products, and make suppliers and contractors aware of your policy.
• You can find model requirements which you can copy into your tenders and contracts here.
  

• Step 3 Check and record basic information on whether your purchases meet your policy.
• Your contractors or suppliers should provide evidence that the products they deliver are derived from legal and sustainable sources. For more information on the two types of evidence, see this page.
• The first type of evidence (category A evidence) you can check relatively easily. See for guidance here, or see this presentation.
• The second type of evidence (category B evidence) is more difficult to assess. However, CPET can help you check it, free of charge. Contact the helpline (see contact details in the left hand side panel of this page).
  

How can we help?

The Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) has been established to aid the UK public sector and publicly funded bodies (such as universities) to help them implement sustainable timber procurement policies in line with the UK government policy. CPET, with support from WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network in the UK (GFTN-UK) and the Timber Trade Federation (TTF), can help universities and colleges to develop a timber policy and reduce their environmental impact through responsible purchasing.

CPET provides free of charge support and training to help universities and colleges implement their policy and ensure compliance.

• Support is available for universities and colleges and their suppliers and contractors through this website and in the form of a helpline which you can call or email (see details on the left hand side of this page) with any additional questions.
  
• You can also attend one of CPET's free training workshops which are organised regularly at various locations around the country. 
  

The UK Government Timber Procurement Policy

The UK government has recognised the pressures placed on our forest resources and has had a timber procurement policy since 2000. This policy requires that all timber and wood derived products procured originate from:

• Legal and sustainable sources, or
• FLEGT licensed or equivalent sources

Recycled products are equally accepted.

The policy is mandatory for all central government departments, executive agencies and non departmental bodies. Universities, colleges and other publicly funded autonomous organisations are encouraged to adopt sustainable timber procurement policies.

More information

Useful links: 

• For more information on the UK Timber Procurement Policy, please see this introductory page. For a detailed overview of the policy (including model text you can use in contracts and specifications)  please see the  UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy Advice Note (April 2010). 
• Additional information on government funded new-build construction and major refurbishments standards can be found on Defra’s website.

 For further information:

• Call the CPET helpline on 01865 243766
• email the CPET helpline via cpet@proforest.net
• See the Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges (EAUC) website.
• Refer to this downloadable leaflet:  Sustainable Timber Procurement: Where does your timber come from?  Help for universities, colleges and their contractors and suppliers.