As a widely used material in Australia, it’s important that timber is sourced responsibly. By supporting the use of certified timber, Matilda Veneer plays a small, but significant role in the global fight against illegal logging. 

Australia imports approximately $4.4 billion worth of timber and wood products (excluding furniture) each year[1]. However, about $400 million of our imports, unfortunately, are suspected to come from sources that may have participated in illegal logging[2].

In 2012, the Australian Government introduced legislation to prohibit the importation of illegally logged timber, joining the United States and European Union in campaigning for sustainably managed global forests. Australia’s strong laws are making the country a less attractive destination for cheaper, illegal timber products that undercut local businesses such as Matilda Veneer, which offer certified timber. 

It is in the interests of the international community and future generations to protect our native flora and fauna in the forests they call home. The depletion of natural resources is also an issue that deserves our attention and consideration as an industry.

You can be confident your timber is from sustainably managed forests if its seller carries certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Both organisations are committed to achieving the certification of forests to independent standards of responsible management. The two schemes approach this objective with different systems but offer consumers equivalent certainty that products originate from sustainably managed forests.

Matilda Veneer is accredited under both the PEFC and FSC Chain of Custody Certification programs. By being responsible members of such certification programs, we help to ensure that forests are managed in a way that not only takes care of the animals and plants, but also the communities who rely on forests[3]. Chain of Custody is about tracking wood from a sustainably managed forest through to its sale as an end product.

Wood products may pass through many hands before being sold for its end use; therefore, to retain its certified status each business that handles it must be accredited. Businesses that participate in the Chain of Custody are demonstrating their commitment to sustainably managed forests; and consumers who purchase the certified end product are making a responsible choice.

Matilda Veneer is focused on being a responsible business working within an ethical business framework. All of our products are sourced and manufactured with our philosophy of sustainability in mind, ensuring we are doing our bit for the environment so that the planet we love is here for many more generations to come.

References:

[1] http://www.agriculture.gov.au/forestry/policies/illegal-logging

[2] JP Management Consulting (Asia Pacific) Pty Ltd, 2005, Overview of Illegal Logging: A report prepared for the Australian Government, Melbourne, Australia

[3] https://au.fsc.org/about-fsc.175.htm