British businesses from the high street and timber, construction, publishing, DIY and grocery industries are among the first UK firms committing to responsible forest trade. The aim - to end deforestation with a shift to 100% sustainable timber and wood products by 2020. Well known firms including M& S, B&Q, Penguin Random House and Carillion have all signed up to WWF-UK’s new forest campaign. The project aims to close the legal loopholes in the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) which mean less than 50% of the value of timber products coming into Europe are confirmed as coming from legal sources. Everyday objects such as chairs, books and musical instruments are currently not included in the legislation.

Illegal and unsustainable logging contributes to deforestation and degradation across the world’s most important forest regions such as Russia’s Far East, Central Africa, Latin America and South East Asia and has massive impacts on the habitats of some of the world’s most endangered species, as well as local people and indigenous communities in some of the world’s poorest countries. The Coalition government previously made a commitment to make it a criminal offence in the UK to import or possess illegal timber.

The companies signed up at the campaign’s start with a pledge to ensure all their wood is legally and sustainably sourced by 2020 are:
• Argos
• Boots UK Ltd
• British Sky Broadcasting
• BSW Timber
• Canal & River Trust
• Carillion
• Homebase
• Lend Lease
• Kimberly Clark
• Kingfisher Plc (B&Q, Screwfix)
• M&S
• Pearson
• Penguin Random House
• Polestar UK Print Ltd and Polestar Bicester Ltd
• Pureprint Group
• Redrow Homes Ltd
• Steinbeis
• Tesco Stores Ltd
• Travis Perkins
• Wm. Morrison Supermarkets

These companies all deliver forest products in one shape or form into the UK market – as cards, books, paper, furniture, fencing, flooring, homes, infrastructure, venues, and more.

Julia Young of the Global Forest and Trade Network UK, said; “We all use products from the forests daily in our homes and at work, from the chairs we sit on to the books we read, and for businesses it’s essential to have a sustainable supply of materials, for now and tomorrow. The businesses signing up know this and are taking action to ensure a future for our forests, it’s time for the government to make good on its promises to do the same.”

Many more companies are expected to join up over the coming months to demand that British business investments that depend on a steady supply of timber are guaranteed a sustainable long term supply by levelling the playing field for the market in sustainable timber.

The existing loopholes in the current legislation to combat illegal timber means some industries are exempt from ensuring that their wood or products have come from legal sources. Members of the public could unwittingly purchase products from illegal forest clearance, which has a huge impact on some of the world’s poorest countries.
In 2015 the timber regulation is due to be reviewed and WWF and its campaign supporters are calling on the UK government to demand the EU makes the necessary improvements to the regulation to ensure that all timber products are covered and thus end the import of illegal wood.

Longer term the campaign will also be working to find ways to encourage the market towards supporting sustainable forestry and trade.