The two main sustainable timber certifiers in the UK are the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC). They work in very similar ways and can trace a product to the tree that it came from.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are certifications for companies and organisations which have measured their resources, evaluated the environmental impact and are continually working towards reducing that impact. The main standard is ISO14001, but there are other EMS certifications becoming available which are tailored either to be easier for the company to do themselves or for particular industries.

The FSC standard works towards responsible forest management by working with all the stakeholders. Purchasing timber with FSC accreditation ensures the timber is legal and has respected the rights of workers, rights of indigenous communities and endangered wildlife habitats.

The FSC standard is considered to be the best timber accreditation available by the Buildings Research Establishment, as shown in their EcoHomes Standard 2006. It is worth checking out their website to learn more about the work the FSC does.