Forest Matters May/June 2018
organ
Š J. M
/ WWF
1
Director’s Overview Contents 3
News in brief
4
ew and reissued CoC N certificates in the UK
6 Case study: On the level 8 Forest round-up: What do current, past and potential forest management certificate holders think of FSC? 11 Product focus: Colart 12 FSC stakeholder events 14 Healthy Jaguar populations recorded in FSC-certified concessions 16
Get to know… FSC Portugal
18 International case study: Smallholders in Vietnam are supplying garden furnitue and combating deforestation 20 Survey results: Three quarters of UK shoppers prefer products bearing a FSC label 22
Job vacancy
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FSC in numbers
Dear Reader, Welcome to this issue of Forest Matters. We are delighted to announce the findings from our latest consumer research on awareness of FSC. Once again, recognition of the FSC logo has increased, now standing at an impressive 55%. We recognise that this is primarily down to the promotion of FSC by our certificate holders, licence holders and other stakeholders. Thank you! Continuing the good news, the case study on page 14 looks at how low-impact timber management, as practised in FSC-certified concessions, can be effective in conserving species. The study recorded healthy jaguar populations in certified forests in Guatemala and Peru. Such positive findings, based on scientific evidence, can really help us communicate the effectiveness of FSC’s requirements in terms of balancing environmental and social needs with economic demands. Closer to home we focus on UK certificates that have been newly issued or re-issued in April this year (see page 4). We hope to make this a regular feature, in addition to our usual product focus. FSC UK funded a series of questions in the 2017 British Woodland Survey (see page 8) and, encouragingly, the results indicate interest in FSC certification from many owners of smaller woodlands. Improving access to FSC certification for smallholders is a key focus of FSC’s work and FSC UK plans to field test a completely new approach as part of this. The results of the 2017 survey highlight the main motivations for and barriers to certification and will inform our work in this area. Kind regards,
Rosie Teasdale Executive Director, FSC UK 2
News in Brief 4 New feature: new & reissued UK certificates
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This edition of Forest Matters features a list of new and reissued certificates for the previous month. In April we welcomed 12 new certificates and 72 reissued certificates.
Vacancy for Licence Holder Support Officer
Consumer survey results The results of FSC UK’s latest consumer survey are now available.
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We are seeking a new member of our team, who will help us engage, support and represent existing and potential FSC Licence Holders to maximise demand for FSC certified products and projects. © B. Ealovega / WWF UK
Plastics Pact The UK Plastics Pact, launched on 26 April by WRAP, is a unique collaboration which brings together businesses from across the entire plastics value chain with UK governments and NGOs to tackle the scourge of plastic waste. 42 businesses, including major food, drink and non-food brands, manufacturers and retailers right through to plastic reprocessors and packaging suppliers have made their commitment to the Pact. Find out more at http://www.wrap.org.uk/.
FSC Congo Basin Business Encounter in Gabon – 19 June 2018 A business encounter is being organised by FSC in collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen the responsible supply chain in the Congo Basin. For those interested in attending the event, please contact Ben Romein (b.romein@fsc.nl).
© S.Chaudhray
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New/reissued Certificates
Organisation
Licence Code and Scope:
New certificates, April 2018:
• • • • • • • • • •
Rees Flooring Ltd (FSC-C140287) W8, W8.1, W11, W11.5 Harlequin Design (London) Ltd (FSC-C140179) W19 Busy Bee Builders Merchants Ltd (FSC-C140186) W5, W6, W8, W11, W13 Summers Joinery Ltd & RHA Production Ltd (FSC-C140207) W5, W6, W7, P3 Alex Anderson (FSC-C140270) W3.1, W3.2, W3.3, N1, W1.1 Rinus Roofing Supplies Ltd T/A The Roof Hub (FSC-C140237) W4.3, W5.3, W6.1, W11.2, W8.1, W8.2 Axiom Displays Ltd (FSC-C140088) W12.1, W12.2, W12.3, W12.7, W12.9, W12.10, W12.13 Advanced Discovery Ltd T/A Millnet (FSC-C140057) P7, P8, P5 Document Services Swanline Group, T/A Swanline Print Ltd (FSC-C140215) P5, P8.4 & Swanline Paper & Board Pacific Forest Global Company Limited (FSC-C140052) P2.1, P3.1, P3.2, P4.1, P4.2, P4.3 Atmosphere Ltd (FSC-C139669) W12.1, W12.2, W12.8
Reissued certificates, April 2018:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4
Batsford Timber Ltd (FSC-C115401) W4.1, W4.3, W5, W13.4, W13.1, W13.5, W13.6, W8.1, W8.2, W13.4 Manor Packaging Ltd (FSC-C115460) P5.2 Ling Design Ltd (FSC-C023009) P7.5, P2, P3 Tom Chambers Ltd (FSC-C002471) W13.7 Allander Print Limited (FSC-C008886) P8 DS Smith Packaging Ltd (Also T/A DS Smith (FSC-C106676) P4, P5.1 Speciality Packaging, Abbey Converters, Abbey Corrugated and Abbey Board) Nuco International Ltd also T/A Nu Agencies (FSC-C002235) P7, W17 Matchboard Ltd (FSC-C002784) W8.3.2 Stirland Paterson (Printers) Ltd (FSC-C015962) P8 Glenmere Timber Ltd (FSC-C004475) W7, W8, W5, W1.1 British Woodworking Federation (FSC-C005564) W5, W8.1, W8.2, W8.3, W11.1, W19, W17, P2, W2, W15.2, W12 Sportswift Ltd. trading as Card Factory (FSC-C128081) P8.6, P7.5, P2.3, P5.3 P5.1 Swan Mill Paper Company Ltd (FSC-C007933) P2.1, P3.2, P5.3, P7.1, P8.4, W17.2 SMP Group PLC (FSC-C010152) P8 Qualvis Print & Packaging Limited (FSC-C012293) P5 Pyramid Press Limited (FSC-C012314) P7.2, P8.4, P8.2 PPS Grasmere Limited (FSC-C015552) P8.4, P8.5 Gilmour & Dean Eurostampa UK (FSC-C106073) P7.8 Rainbridge Timber Ltd (FSC-C115090) W13, W5, W1, W6 Direct Charcoal Limited (FSC-C010206) W18.11, W2 H & H Reeds Printers Ltd (FSC-C022498) P5.4, P5.7, P7.1, P7.3, P7.5, P7.6, P7.7, P7.8, P8.1, P8.2, P8.4, P8.5, P8.6 Howard Hunt City Ltd (FSC-C003940) P8.4 Interact Marketing Services Ltd. (FSC-C081867) P8, P7 trading as Printwize P & L (UK) Ltd T/A Xylo Flooring & Xylo Cleaf (FSC-C117856) W11, W12 Simeon Bateman Ltd (FSC-C010633) W5, W8 Northern Joinery Ltd (FSC-C129144) W11, W11.3
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
JD Doors Ltd (FSC-C117436) W11, W11.1 Roger Mitchell (UK) Limited (FSC-C008548) W5, W6 Orangebox (FSC-C012872) W12, W12.6, W12 The Big Push Ltd. trading as Push (FSC-C011203) P7.1, P7.2, P7.3, P7.5, P7.6, P7.7, P7.8, P8.1, P8.2, P8.3, P8.4, P8.5, P8.6, P8.7 Hayes Garden World (FSC-C016228) W13.1 Aspex UK Limited (FSC-C116206) W11.1 Northwood Forestry Ltd (FSC-C116060) W5, W6 Total Laminate Systems Ltd (FSC-C116008) W12, W11, W11.4, W11.12, W5 Deanestor Ltd (FSC-C005621) W12 Task Consumer Products Ltd (FSC-C116007) P2.6 Meea Print Ltd (FSC-C115841) P2, P3 Henry Ling Ltd T/A Skyline Bookbinders (FSC-C013985) P8, P7, P2 Horbury Joinery Ltd (FSC-C010978) W8, W5, W11, W9, W11.1, W11.2, W11.3, W11.5, W11.8, W12, W13 Timber Connection Ltd (FSC-C011336) W11.8, W9, W5, W11.7, W9.11, W13.5 Hales Sawmills Limited (FSC-C021464) W1.1, W5, W13.4, W16.6, W8.1 Pineapple Contracts (FSC-C015370) W12 Muriva Ltd (FSC-C111091) P8.8 Arctic Timber Ltd (FSC-C115611) W11.14, W11.3, W11.5, W11.7,W11.8, W4.2,W13.5, W4.3, W5.2, W5.4, W5.6, W5.7, W6.1, W6.2, W6.3, W9.1, W9.6, W5.3 Papico Ltd (FSC-C020183) P2, P3 Foundry Press Limited (FSC-C023627) P8, P8.1 Joinery Softwoods Ltd (FSC-C003922) W5.3 ADS Graphics Ltd t/a Chester Medical Solutions (FSC-C006378) P8.4, P5.1, P5.2 Greens Ltd (FSC-C012602) P8.1, P8.4, P8.5 C P Timber Limited (FSC-C115717) W5.3, W5.4, W6.1 Team Impression Limited (FSC-C003554) P7.3, P7.5, P7.6, P7.8, P8.1, P8.2, P8.4, P8.5, P8.6, P10, P5.1 John Good Ltd (FSC-C115465) P8 Stairplan Ltd (FSC-C115688) W11.3, W11.8, W6, W8.1, W8.3.2 Board 24 Limited (FSC-C105503) P4, P5 Barton Storage Systems Ltd (FSC-C115673) W8 Boys and Boden Ltd t/a Pear Stairs (FSC-C018393) W11.3 Softwood & Hardwood Staircase Manufacturers Abbeywood Floorcoverings Ltd (FSC-C115594) W11.5 British American Tobacco Western Europe (FSC-C115643) P5.1 Commercial Trading Limited Sovereign Design Play Systems Limited (FSC-C008462) W15.1, W13.1 Chippenham Pallet Company Limited (FSC-C105712) W10.1, W10.3 Rowlinson Packaging Limited (FSC-C115425) W6.1, W8.1, W8.2, W10.1, W10.3, W11.5 Enveco (FSC-C006629) P7.6, P7 Tyler Hardwoods Ltd (FSC-C010506) W5, W6, W11, W12, W16, W18 Print Squared T/A More (FSC-C016215) P7, P8, P10 Border Oak Design & Construction Ltd (FSC-C105756) W5, W9, W11.2, W19 P&A Fencing & Sheds Ltd T/A Zest 4 Leisure (FSC-C114990) W4.3, W5.2, W5.6, W6.1, W8.1, W8.2, W8.3, W10.1, W10.3, W13.1, W13.3, W13.4, W13.5, W13.6, W13.7, W13.2 Trimex GTC Limited (FSC-C116099) W18, W16 Ashley Timber Ltd (FSC-C116565) W4.1, W5.1, W8.3, W9.7, W11.1 Mivan Marine Limited (FSC-C121818) W12, W13 Boxpak Limited (FSC-C125160) P5.1 Connection Seating Limited (FSC-C023339) W12
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Case study
On the level
On The Level (OTL) are a specialist wet room floor manufacturer, based in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Established in 1999, OTL have grown bigger and better every year and now enjoy being a leading name of the wet room floor industry. They are a family run company and work with clients nationally; from end-users to architects, contractors, and modular build companies. 6
Š Jessie M Photography / On The Level
© Jessie M Photography / On The Level
O
n The Level manufacture wet room formers. Formers are a type of shower tray which sit underneath the floor, be it vinyl or tiled. The product itself is made of birch ply and is not seen once it has been tiled over, enabling their customers to create a minimalistic look in their bathroom areas. On The Level create a range of stock size and bespoke products to suit all floor types, and all the formers are finished by hand in their warehouse. The company was initially asked by a potential client if they were FSC-certified. This is when they realised the importance of such traceability to large corporations. After some initial research, OTL decided it was in the best interests of the business, the product being used, and the client’s peace of mind to become FSC-certified. On The Level have found that being FSC-certified gives them a great deal more credibility, certainly in the eyes of their larger clients. Many companies will only award a job to businesses which adhere to the FSC rules, so it gives OTL a great advantage in that respect. They are also proud to shout about the fact they are certified through social media, as well as building sustainability messages into their marketing campaigns for 2018 and beyond. Having the certification is a big deal for OTL, not only so that all the wood they use is traceable, but also because it shows that they are conscientious and concerned about the future of the planet. OTL are committed to doing their bit for sustainability. The certification has had a great impact on the larger projects which On The Level are specified for. It helps to win contracts with companies who want to use sustainable products in their projects, and once OTL
are able to show their certification and the fact that their products are as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible, it is a big positive in the eyes of the clients. “OTL found the whole process of becoming certified very thorough. There is a lot to check and keep on top of, but once you get into a routine and stay organised, it’s pretty straight forward and helps us to keep accurate records which we can refer back to as required. We can track what % of contracts and orders are FSC traceable. Some contractors won’t deal with us unless we are FSC-certified and this is a fantastic way to show the products we manufacture are sustainable.” – James Clark. Managing Director, On The Level. On The Level have not had any problems or major challenges as such, but the case of working out the wood usage (what is used, what is waste etc) has given them an added admin job. That said, they use it as an opportunity to practice good standards. For any companies thinking about becoming FSC certified, On The Level have the following advice: “Do your research and make sure you know exactly what you can expect throughout the process. The guidelines seem to be forever changing and being updated so it’s a lot to keep on top of but it’s important that you do. All in all however, On The Level haven’t found this to be a major issue, you simply need to set aside some reading time to stay up to date with things. If ever we need help with anything, BM Trada are on hand to help with use of logo etc, if we want to use it on the website or in a case study.” – Owen Hinds. Production Manager, On The Level. www.onthelevel.co.uk FSC®-C116674 7
Forest round-up
What do current, past and potential forest management certificate holders think of FSC?
S
ince 2012, the British Woodlands Survey series, co-ordinated by the Sylva Foundation, has provided a valuable window into the thoughts and actions of a huge number of woodland owners and managers in the UK. Many of you will have seen the results of, and perhaps even have contributed to, the
British Woodlands Survey 2017. Recognising the wide reach of the Survey, FSC UK took the opportunity to fund a series of questions to build on our existing knowledge of the drivers for and barriers to FSC forest management certification, and the results1 are summarised below.
What attracted current certificate holders to FSC? Of those owners or tenants whose woodlands are currently certified, 25 % mentioned access to markets as a motivation. Interestingly, reputational benefits ranked more highly than price premiums as motivating factors. We also saw the continuing positive effect of certification being a pre-requisite for accessing certain management grants in the past, with nearly 15 % of respondents citing this as a factor which attracted them to FSC. Agents gave similar answers for the woodland owners they represented. Over 50 % mentioned access to markets, 44 % mentioned reputational benefits, and 34 % mentioned price premiums. Of those who had left certification, a third said that it was too costly and 31 % said it involved too much paperwork. Others cited the lack of price premiums or market requirements for certified material, but fewer than 10 % of respondents said that it was too difficult to meet standard requirements.
60% Owners/tennants
Agents
50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Access to markets
Reputational benefits
Price premiums
Personal assurance that the woodlands are managed responsibly
Simpler standard requirements
Other
% respondents identifying various factors which attracted them or their clients to FSC forest management certification
1 Hemery, G., and Petrokofsky, G. (2018). Woodland owner, manager and agent attitudes to forest certification within the British Woodlands Survey 2017. Consultation report to Forest Stewardship Council UK.
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Š FSC UK / E. Parker
Who responded? 423 survey respondents answered the question ‘Are the woodlands you own or manage covered by FSC forest management certification?’. Of these respondents, 20 % said that their woods were currently covered by FSC FM certification, 10 % said they had been FSC certified in the past, and 50 % said that they would consider FSC certification in the future. We were surprised (and delighted!) by the proportion of woodland owners/managers who would potentially consider FSC certification. Of course, these results relate to the number of respondents, rather than to the area of woodland they own or manage. As we would expect from what we already know about FSC certificate holders, currently certified woodlands were the biggest (median 101.2 ha). But those potentially interested in FSC owned or managed very small woods indeed (median 8.2 ha), and woodlands which were previously certified were also surprisingly small (median 24.3 ha). In terms of location, as for BWS2017 as a whole, the majority of responses were from England. Scotland had the highest proportion of respondents currently in FSC forest management certification. England had the highest proportion who have left FSC, but also the highest proportion who would consider certification, with Wales somewhere between Scotland and England. Only one response came from Northern Ireland, from a respondent who would consider FSC certification in the future.
Patterns of woodland ownership were fairly consistent for all certification statuses, with the vast majority of respondents representing personal agricultural (i.e. part of a privately-owned farm or rural estate) or personal non-agricultural (i.e. a privately-owned woodland) holdings. Finally, it is interesting to note that while most currently certified woodlands were dominated by conifers, the woodlands of those who would potentially consider certification were mainly broadleaved.
What can we learn from this, and what are we doing about it? Responses from those who have left certification are consistent with what we hear informally regarding costs and paperwork. Clarified guidance on verifiers of conformance in UKWAS 4 may go some way towards reducing the paperwork burden, particularly for smaller woodlands. The planned revision of the FSC group scheme standard FSC-STD-30-005 may go some way towards reducing direct costs of certification, but it will also be necessary to seek changes to FSC-STD-20-007, which governs forest management evaluations. For those potentially interested in FSC forest management certification, we clearly need to do more to communicate the benefits and practicalities. But we also need to recognise that the benefits they may seek are not necessarily the same as those sought by current certificate holders, and may be far more about personal assurance than about marketing FSC 9
What might attract potential certificate holders to FSC? 35 % of respondents said that they would be attracted to FSC for personal assurance that their woodlands were well managed; that personal assurance is more important to most respondents than product prices or market access is consistent with what we have learned from a far more limited survey of small woodland owners, reported in Forest Matters May 2017, for many of whom the sale of products was not a high priority. In terms of actual certification requirements, a reduction in paperwork (cited by 35 % of respondents) was more important than simpler standard requirements (cited by 31 %), which was in turn more important than lower costs (cited by 27 %). Other interesting specific responses were: ‘a more practical and workable approach to chemical weed control and to control of pests, in particular squirrels’; ‘being able to use Grown in Britain’; ‘integration with FC schemes’; and, ‘wait until the trees are marketable’. Some respondents clearly felt the need for more information before they could make a decision. 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%
Personal assurance that the woodlands are managed responsibly
Less paperwork
Simpler standard requirements
Reputational benefits
Price premiums
Lower costs
Access to markets
Other
% respondents identifying various factors which would attract them to FSC forest management certification
certified products. There is a strong push in the UK to bring more woodlands into management to supply a greater proportion of our domestic demands of timber and other forest products. FSC’s mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests, and we seek to achieve that by bringing more woodlands into FSC certification. Can we find the right balance between the objectives of owners and wider societal needs? To attract more woodland owners into certification, it seems that we need to reduce paperwork, simplify standard requirements, and reduce costs, in that order. Of course, these factors are to some degree inter-related. As part of our ongoing work to try to make certification more accessible for smaller woodland owners, and with the support of FSC International’s New Approaches project, FSC UK will shortly be embarking on a project to develop and forest test a radically new standard
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specifically tailored to such woodlands. We intend to really push the boat out and try something that has never been tried before within the FSC system. While the result may not gain universal acceptance, we hope that the lessons learned will be valuable for FSC not just in the UK but around the world. In parallel, we will be exploring the cost and credibility implications of proportionate, risk-based approaches to auditing, which we hope will feed into the planned revision of FSC-STD-30-005 and any future revision of FSC-STD-20-007; this, more than anything, may make a real difference to the costs of certification. A call will soon go out for members of a standard development group and a consultative forum for this project. Keep an eye on the FSC UK website for updates. If you have any questions in the meantime or would like to register your interest at this stage, please contact FSC UK Forest Standards Manager Dr Owen Davies at owen@fsc-uk.org.
Product Focus
PICTURING SUSTAINABILITY
C
olart encompases six of the oldest and most respected art supply companies from across the globe. Our brands include Winsor & Newton, Lefranc Bourgeois & Reeves. Our mission is to provide sustainable, creative tools and services to release pure expression. Colart use FSC 100% certified wood for some of our brush handles and our canvas frames. For over 180 years we've been combining craftsmanship with the highest grade materials when making the finest quality artists' brushes. Our range of brushes in natural and synthetic hair, include the iconic Series 7 Kolinsky Sable water colour brush. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit all media, our brushes offer artists wide choice and ultimate control. Having premium quality wood that we can trace as being sustainable is essential to us.
It takes time and skill to make the perfect canvas, we require specially constructed frames crafted from kiln dried solid wood. Our canvas frames are manufactured using FSC-certified wood and prepared using specially chosen cloth and primer for excellent performance and long-lasting paintings. Sustainability and traceability of wood is crucial to Colart’s brands and our consumers. Colart’s canvases and brushes are available worldwide in over 120 countries. FSC certification provides us with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. With public concerns about the state of the world’s forests and timber resources increasing, FSC provides a credible solution to complex environmental and social issues. We have also started introducing FSC-certified paper in to our range of products as well as requiring FSC-certified packaging from our suppliers. As we increase our portfolio, we expect to move more of our products to FSC-certified where applicable.
Product name: Brush handles and canvas frames FSC label: FSC 100% Company name: Colart International Holdings Ltd FSC licence number: FSC®-C129594 Certified since: April 2016 Website: http://www.colart.com
11 © Colart
FSC UK
Stakeholder events
O
ur 2018 programme of Regional Stakeholder Events was launched in March, with members of the FSC UK team travelling to Belfast. This was FSC UK’s first ever event in Belfast and it certainly won’t be our last! After a quick turnaround, we then travelled to Garforth, Leeds, enjoying some breath taking snowy scenery along the way. We were delighted to welcome delegates from all over Northern Ireland at the Belfast Event, who represented a good variety of sectors and supply chain positions from forestry and timber supply to print and packaging. At the Leeds event, delegates represented the joinery, greeting card publishing, furniture, panelling, print and packaging, construction and timber supply industries. Both events opened with a sobering reminder of why FSC certification really matters. Delegates were advised that more than a billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods and around 300 million people live in forests. When properly managed, forest products are a genuinely renewable resource. This is where 12
FSC Licence Holders play a critical role as part of a global initiative to ensure that forest products are used responsibly. After an overview of the FSC UK National Office and the part it plays in the wider FSC network, delegates were introduced to the FSC UK team, our trustees and members. Our strategic priorities of Forests, Licence Holder Support, Driving Demand and Credibility were explained, as were our sources of income and our main expenditures. We are very keen for FSC Licence Holders to benefit fully from their commitment to the FSC system and therefore delegates were provided with a detailed account of the host of services on offer to them in UK, including our free advisory service, notification of revised standards and consultations, free online training and marketing support. An update on the current FSC UK projects followed, including a review of our work in promoting the correct specification of FSC materials in the Construction, Print and Packaging sectors.
As part of FSC UK’s involvement in the revision of the FSC standard FSC-STD-50-002 Trademark Requirements for Non-Certificate Holders we took the opportunity to pose some of the main consultation questions to both audiences, such as the proposed expansion of labelling agreements to enable the use of a retailer’s or brand owner’s FSC licence code on a product. For this session we introduced the use of Slido, an online polling and analytics tool that allows users to pose questions, engage participants with live polls and capture valuable event data. Our delegates mastered this brilliantly and this enabled us to bring away some very valuable feedback to input into the consultation. Our 2017 Survey of Services which was completed by FSC Certificate Holders highlighted the significant importance of a good lunch at any event, and in both venues we halted proceedings at this point to enjoy a ‘good spread’! After lunch we launched our afternoon sessions on how to effectively promote FSC certification and products, along with how to use the FSC logo. As FSC Licence Holders, our delegates had done the hard work, got their systems in place and passed audits. But, we asked the question as to whether they were getting in the most out of their certification. Did they think they were telling their customers or potential customers about their certification and FSC products? Prior analysis of online promotion of FSC by both audiences showed that a high percentage of organisations did not mention FSC at all online and an even higher percentage made no use of the FSC logo in promotion.
Based on our annual logo recognition and purchase preference analysis (see the latest results on page 20), we sought to demonstrate to our delegates that labelling products as FSC adds value, and that using the FSC logo helps to communicate corporate and social responsibility initiatives and create a positive corporate image. In order to support Licence Holders in using the FSC trademarks, a session followed on the use of the online FSC Marketing Toolkit, where campaign materials can be downloaded and guidelines as to the correct use of the assets can be found. A quick Slido poll showed that our delegates were feeling positive and enthused about using the FSC trademarks. Both events closed with an overview of the revised standard, which covers the use of the FSC trademarks by certificate holders, along with guidance on how to use the FSC trademarks correctly in labelling and promotion. We are extremely grateful to all who attended the events. We received a warm welcome in both locations and enjoyed some very lively and informed question and answer sessions. Feedback from both events was really positive and this has given us great enthusiasm to continue this programme of regional events across the following 12 months. Look out for advance information about events in your locality and please do suggest any venues or locations which you feel might be suitable and advantageous.
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Healthy Jaguar populations recorded in FSC-certified concessions 14
A new study by conservationists from San Diego Zoo Global and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has found that jaguar populations can thrive in well-managed, FSC-certified forests.
T
he study, titled ‘Do responsibly managed logging concessions adequately protect jaguars and other large and medium-sized mammals? Two case studies from Guatemala and Peru’ published in the April issue of the journal Biological Conservation, was carried out in forest concessions certified to FSC standards in Guatemala and Peru. To conduct the study, the research team set up camera traps to measure how effective these concessions are in maintaining healthy populations of land mammals, with a focus on jaguars (Panthera onca), the Western Hemisphere’s largest cat species. The camera traps in Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve photographed 23 jaguars, whereas the traps in two Peruvian concessions in the Madre de Dios region recorded 43 individuals. Spot patterns, unique to each animal, were studied to accurately determine ‘recaptures’ of the same jaguar. Calculations based on captures and recaptures in the Guatemala site showed an average of 1.5 jaguars per 100 square kilometres. While in the Peru sites, the average density was 4.5 jaguars per 100 square kilometres. In addition to the big cats, both sites supported more than 20 large and medium-sized mammal species, with 22 in Guatemala and 27 in Peru.
Deforestation is largely responsible for habitat loss of species that thrive in biodiverse regions of Central and South America, home to jaguars, tapirs, peccaries and other species. Studies such as this one offer an accurate measure of the impact of logging operations on wildlife and how low-impact timber management, as practised in FSC-certified concessions, can be effective in conserving species such as the jaguar, classified as near threatened on the IUCN red list.
All images: © San Diego Zoo Global
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Get to know…
FSC Portugal FSC Portugal is represented by the Associação para uma Gestão Florestal Responsável (AGFR), an organisation created in 2007 with the sole objective of providing local representation and regulating the FSC forest certification scheme in Portugal. Nowadays, it has 2 full time staff members, working on the Normative Framework, business development, communication and training.
P
ortugal has more than 390,000ha of FSC certified forest, representing around 12% of the forest area in the country. Due to the property regime (around 400,000 forest owners and 6.5million holdings), the focus for FSC Portugal is engagement with smallholders, which represent the majority of the ownership pattern. In the last two years, a variety of workshops have been held with more to come. These have been providing information for smallholders, covering such topics as; good practices on soil preparation, High Conservation Values, and work and safety conditions of forestry operations. This presence on the ground, has been shown to be fundamental in the development and engagement of the stakeholders with the system. Considering that responsible forest management should be promoted and valued, FSC Portugal has also directed its work towards consumer awareness, through partnerships and new TSP clients.
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The more recent projects are with Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission, promoting FSC through the use of certified material in their own products. These include; cork stoppers, paper labels, wood barrels, board and wood boxes. The project also covers the promotion of FSC within the producers and bottlers, in the scope of the Sustainability Plan developed for the region. There is also a campaign with a coffee brand using sugar packages (printed on FSC paper) to communicate the importance of responsible forest management and the use of FSC certified products. A project to be developed in the next few years is the evaluation of the impact of FSC certification on a national level in its environmental, economic and social aspects. Other areas for development include: fostering a more effective communication of the benefits of forest certification, assess the resilience to fires, exotic species, pests and diseases, evaluate the conservation of habitats and the conditions of fauna and flora, estimate productivities, and assess the impact on climate change. Furthermore, FSC Portugal is continuing to work to: ensure contact with Central Administration/ Government by encouraging the commitment to FSC certification in areas under their management.
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aintain the promotion of FSC certification with m smallholder’s groups, working together with FSC International to adapt the system to the national reality. strengthen the link with FSC International, consolidating the recognition of FSC Portugal as a national partner with a high level of participation in the international debate, both in the global strategic guidelines, and in the revision of FSC rules and tools. increase the visibility of the FSC brand in important target markets or with high potential for the Portuguese forest. promote the communication of the FSC brand with Civil Society and the final consumer, stimulating new communication channels. maintain a regular process of recruiting new members, promoting balance in the representation of the three chambers (environmental, economic and social). maintain the use of the TC 145 as a platform par excellence for the standardisation of forest management within FSC Portugal, increasing the synergies and taking advantage of resources already existing within the scope of the activity of this Technical Commission for Standardisation. promote, in partnership, education and awareness initiatives with a view to increasing responsible citizenship.
Recently FSC Portugal published a new version of their National Forest Stewardship Standard, according FSC new International Generic Indicators. An application for approval of the National Risk Assessment for Controlled Wood was the last achievement in terms of the Normative Framework. www.pt.fsc.org 17
International case study
Supplying the world with garden furniture, small forest owners in Vietnam are combating deforestation Authored and first published by WWF International.
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n Central Vietnam hundreds of smallholders are joining forces to produce FSC-certified acacia used in outdoor furniture around the world, expanding the approach and making the business case for sustainability may be the best chance for saving forests in the Greater Mekong. Vietnam’s forests have now been degraded or destroyed by logging and agricultural land clearance to the point where there is almost no untouched primary forest left. And the wider Greater Mekong region is predicted to be one of the world’s hottest ‘deforestation fronts’ over the next 15 years if nothing is done.
Reforesting degraded areas with natural species and enriching plantations with natural ‘buffer zones’ is part of the solution and can provide vital corridors for wildlife. Reducing dependence on foreign imports that drive deforestation is also critical. Ultimately, tackling deforestation relies on making the business case for sustainability – especially for Vietnam’s 1.5 million smallholders who own most of its plantations. “We realised that small forest owners could help shape a sustainable forest sector – but only if they could supply the international market”, says Vu Nguyen, Sustainable Acacia Manager, WWF Vietnam. “That means helping them improve the quality of their product.”
On the Plantation Ho Da The and two fellow acacia farmers, Ho Duc Luc and Ho Duc Ngu, make their way through The’s acacia trees on a muggy afternoon. The is from Hoa Loc village. A smallholder with 4.91 hectares of acacia plantation, he heads up the village smallholder group. Together with Luc and Ngu, he’s lived here all his life but working formally as a group is relatively new – the result of involvement in WWF’s regional Sustainable Bamboo Acacia & Rattan Project (SBARP). In collaboration with WWF corporate partner IKEA, the project promotes FSC certification as one way of driving sustainable production and drawing smallholders into the international market.
Possible together As requested by its customer, Scansia Pacific, the Minh An processing company in the town of Phu Bai only uses 18
FSC-certified acacia. A Vietnamese supplier to IKEA, Scansia produces the home furnishing giant’s Äpplarö range of outdoor furniture. It’s a market link that’s been instrumental in enabling Phu Loc’s smallholders become certified. “We really had difficulties sourcing certified material at the outset”, says Ha. “So now we support forest owners in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces with [certification] assessment costs. The relationship is closer now. We feel happy creating value for local people. It’s is a win-win deal.” Working with Minh An, Scansia and IKEA, and adopting a pioneering group approach to certification through which they share costs and responsibilities has radically changed how The’s Hoa Loc village smallholder group do business. Supported by WWF, it belongs to a larger association of 241 smallholders in Thua Thien Hue Province – the Forest Owners Sustainable Development Association (FOSDA).
The, Luc and Ngu now make over VND 30 million ($1,250) profit per hectare per year from FSC-certified acacia timber – about twice as much as what they would earn from non-certified acacia for woodchip. It’s enabled them to carry out house repairs, renew equipment, and invest in the next business cycle.
Scaling Up According to WWF’s Impact in the Forest report, deforestation-free enterprise remains in its infancy. “The challenge is scaling up”, says Vu Nguyen. “Larger areas need to be certified to meet market demand. And investment at landscape and jurisdictional levels is needed to end deforestation. Companies like IKEA can help drive regional change but farmers and communities remain central to success.”
On to a Good Thing Working together has delivered a lot. Better business planning and longer harvest cycles produce more valuable timber, and commitment from buyers like IKEA mean a better price. Seven to eight-year-old acacia for furniture commands more than twice what a five-year-old harvest used as woodchip for pulp and paper can. “Before, acacia production was just a way for people to survive – now it’s becoming a professional commodity that’s market-driven”, says WWF’s Vu Nguyen. “And smallholder incomes and social standing are improving.” All images © J. Morgan / WWF
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FSC News
Three Quarters of UK shoppers prefer products bearing a FSC label
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recent consumer survey conducted by TNS* has revealed that 55% of people in the UK are able to recognise the FSC logo. This represents an increase of 1% over 2017, with the biggest increase in recognition (8%) being in the South East of England. Some of the highest levels of recognition were in those aged 35-44 (62%) and 18-24 (60%). The lowest level of recognition was 43%, found in those aged 65+. The survey also shows that 69% of people are more likely to purchase a product bearing the FSC logo than a similar product without and this figure jumps to 75% if there is clearly no other visible difference between the products. The UK public care about where the products they purchase come from and how they have been sourced. This is proven by the survey, in which three quarters of UK citizens believe it is important for the products they purchase to have been responsibly sourced, preferring products carrying the FSC label over similar products without.
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Prompted recognition of the FSC logo, by region.
The FSC label helps brands align with public expectations and communicate their responsible sourcing to an audience tha responsibly sourced materials from FSC-certified forests and reclaimed (recycled) sources. Without credible independent certification, it can be difficult for shoppers to be sure that a forest product has been sourced responsibly and that their purchase is not contributing to global deforestation. Rosie Teasdale, Executive Director at FSC UK said: “If we want forests to be here for future generations, it is vital that we source our wood and paper products responsibly.” “It is really encouraging to see just how many people in the UK care about where the products they buy are coming from. Choosing and promoting FSC-certified products and materials is one way to help ensure forests for all forever, allowing us to enjoy all the benefits that forests give us, now and in the future.” The need for responsibly sourced forest materials could grow as a shift in attitudes towards plastics has seen consumers increasingly expecting businesses to offer responsible alternatives. This shift in public opinion has sparked change in many leading brands. Iceland has pledged that its own-brand products will be plastic free by 2023, McDonald’s have set the target for 100% of its
% of those who recognise the FSC logo, who believe it important for it to be featured on wood and paper products, to inform their purchasing decisions.
Purchase preference for products bearing the FSC logo, by region.
guest packaging to come from renewable, recycled, or certified sources by 2025 with a preference for FSC-certified materials, Coca-Cola is aiming to increase its use of recycled materials and be recycling one bottle or can for each sold by 2030 and Marks and Spencer have pledged to make all packaging recyclable by 2022 and aim to replace their plastic cutlery with FSC-certified, wooden cutlery. Consumers will now be watching to make sure that businesses keep to their pledges. Choosing FSC-certified materials and promoting them using the FSC trademarks, can help both by ensuring responsible procurement and supporting customer engagement. Although the UK Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, and the surge in company engagement are quite recent; alternatives to plastics are being implemented today. Any company interested in using the FSC logo in relation to their products or packaging can find further information here. *TNS Omnibus survey of 2151 adults (fieldwork: 12/04/17 – 16/04/17)
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FSC UK is recruiting for the new post of
Licence Holder Support Officer It is essential that we support those companies committed to the FSC system. In the global context, we also need to represent our UK stakeholders to ensure that FSC’s standards are appropriate and relevant. We are seeking a new member of our team, who will help us engage, support and represent existing and potential FSC Licence Holders to maximise demand for FSC certified products and projects. A thorough induction to the role and full FSC training will be provided. The Licence Holder Support Officer role is crucial to this work and requires a patient and polite individual who has the ability to understand and communicate FSC’s requirements effectively. Attention to detail is paramount to this role, as is a proven ability to manage effective working relationships and indeed to enjoy doing so. The successful candidate will join a small but ambitious team of people who are dedicated to supporting our Licence Holders and who enjoy communicating FSC’s message. If you know someone who enjoys managing business relationships, working in a small team of great people, and delights in accurate and effective recording of information along with getting to grips with requirements and standards, then this could well be the job for them?
If you know anyone who might be interested in this role please spread the word! Further details can be found by visiting www.fsc-uk.org or email office@fsc-uk.org or call 01686 413916. This role will be based within our office in Llanidloes.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO FEATURE IN FOREST
MATTERS? Are you an FSC certificate or licence holder in the UK? If so, you can feature your case study, article or product focus in Forest Matters - and it’s FREE! Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to let our readers know about your business, and how holding a certificate or licence benefits both you and the world’s forests!
Basic Guidelines: • Case study or relevant feature: 600 - 800 words and 3 photos • Product Focus: 300 words plus 2 photos
For more information and detailed guidelines, contact us on 01686 413 916 or email info@fsc-uk.org
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FSC in numbers 2,335 Chain of Custody certificates in the UK 1,611,064 hectares of FSC-certified forest in the UK 33,759 Chain of Custody certificates worldwide 199,274,840 hectares of FSC-certified forest worldwide Latest figures from FSC IC. Correct as of 3 April 2018. The full list of figures can be viewed at https://ic.fsc.org/en/facts-and-figures.
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) UK is a charity dedicated to promoting responsible forestry. For more information about FSC UK: www.fsc-uk.org info@fsc-uk.org
Charity number: 1130203 FSC® F000231
© J. Morgan / WWF
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