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| Chain of Custody Forestry Certification |
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| Saturday, 10 May 2008 00:00 |
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Timber merchants and resellers need to become more aware of the impact of timber certification on their business. You may not be too concerned whether the timber you sell is Australian or imported but you should be aware of the effect of certification on your capacity to sell your timber.
As the influence of Green Star (or similar) building ratings spreads, timber certification will become a very important factor in the selling process. For those merchants or resellers who do nothing more than stock and on-sell the timber in its certified form this may not add much overhead. You will, however, have to be able to demonstrate "Chain of Custody". Given that most merchants will break packaging, repackage, relabel and sell pieces that are not necessarily identifiable, you may then also require Chain of Custody Certification. Chain of Custody allows the buyer/consumer to purchase timber safe in the knowledge that it comes from sustainably managed forests. Again this has not been a major factor in the domestic construction market to date but it is becoming increasingly important - and the pressure that Green Star ratings are starting to impose on commercial building is undoubtedly coming, in time, to the house building sector. All members of the timber industry need to become aware of this approaching change. Effects of this change will not be limited to large producers and resellers: they will ultimately extend to all producers, remanufacturers, wholesalers and on-sellers of timber. Not being part of the "Chain of Custody" could have a deleterious effect on your business. Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) have produced a series of four "Timber Chain of Custody Certification" brochures. They are targetted in turn at the Forest Manager, Primary Processor, Secondary Processor and Seller. These brochures give you a very sound understanding of what your role will be in the chain. They also provide guidance on how you can go about getting your organisation into the program. Companies that are interested in certification and chain of custody issues are advised to contact the TDA. |
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