|
 |
International Year of Forests: join the celebration!
Forests are in focus this year. The United Nations (UN) has designated 2011 as the International Year of Forests, with the special theme "Forests for People".
Of Forests and Men - UK (David Gasman) from GoodPlanet on Vimeo.
NEPCon is celebrating this year by putting the spotlight on the world's forests and on the people engaged in or benefiting from responsible forest management. We recommend all companies using, buying or selling forest products to join this global celebration!
Forest-friendly actions
Here are our top five suggestions for actions that companies can take to join the UN celebration and help take good care of the world's forests, for the benefit of wildlife as well as the people who depend on them. They also make your commitment visible and enable you to communicate it in a credible way.
1. Get certified
If your business concerns  wood and paper products, one of the most obvious steps to take is to obtain credible forest management or chain of custody certification such as FSC certification. The certifiation enables you to offer your customers forest products that support good forest management.
j2. Work with your suppliers and buyers
Your power to change the world does not lie in the certificate itself, but in how you actively use it to create changes in the marketplace. Make sure your suppliers know your preference for certified products. This year, use your eco-labels a little more actively and carry out that extra campaign to promote your certified business - or take a little time out to talk to your supplier about your goals and future demands for certified or labeled. You can also organise a seminar on certification for your business relations.
 Assessing the risk of illegal wood entering into your supply chain and working to minimise any risk helps to fight illegal logging - an important global problem with devastating effects on the local communities, economy and biodiversity. Illegal logging is linked to deforestation, the cause of an estimated 17% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. If you are importing wood or paper products into the EU, you may be liable under the EU Illegal Timber Regulation, in effect from March 2013. Prepare for the EU Illegal Timber Regulation
 Increasingly, companies are seeking to minimise their 'forest footprint' by adopting policies for their purchases of paper and wood products. Setting clear targets for responsible purchasing of wood and paper, and monitoring your progress enables you to communicate your forest-friendly policy externally. Build a forest-friendly brand
5. Support THE Timber Legality Assessment Website
 The Timber Legality Assessment Website is an innovative online tool helping savvy buyers around the world minimise the risk of illegal wood entering into their supply chain. The website builds on our experience from developing the Global Forest Registry, an online tool for buyers to identify the risk of sourcing unacceptable wood in five key categories, including illegal timber. Your support can help develop this ground-breaking initiative! Become a sponsor |
 |
|
|
|
