Responsibly sourced wood & paper
At B&Q, we recognise how important forests are to our climate, to wildlife and to the people who depend on them for their livelihoods.
We require high standards for the wood and paper products that we buy, whether sourced from a forest or a plantation.
When wood comes from responsibly managed sources, we can be confident that the forest or plantation will not be over-harvested, that only sustainable volumes are removed, and that trees will continue to be grown replacing those that have been used.
A forest that is carefully managed ensures not only its sustainability, but also supports incomes for local people, as well as habitats for wildlife. There are also benefits for carbon capture and storage. As a tree grows it removes carbon from the atmosphere and uses it as one of the building blocks of its woody material. When that wood is then used in our buildings or in furniture, the carbon the tree had captured is locked up, removing it from the atmosphere for a longer period of time.
Illegal and irresponsible logging can cause immeasurable damage. When forests are cleared, the land may be used for agriculture such as palm oil plantations or cattle ranching. This can impact traditional livelihoods and is linked to increased incidents of flooding and local climate change.
At B&Q, we published our first timber policy in 1991. We had been challenged to prove that we were not sourcing wood from threatened rainforests – and we realised that we needed to be confident that we knew where our wood was from.
In 1994, we were a founding partner of the Forest Stewardship Council®. FSC® is a certification scheme that ensures that forests and plantations where wood is harvested are managed responsibly and sustainably. Wood can then be traced back through chain of custody systems through the ‘chain’ of harvesters, processors and manufacturers to us. We can pass this certification to our trade customers if needed so that they can meet their customers’ responsible sourcing requirements as well.
We are committed to responsibly sourcing 100% of the wood and paper products that we buy by 2025
We are working towards a target where 100% of the wood, paper and any wood based materials in the products we buy is responsibly sourced. This means that the wood or paper is either FSC® certified with full chain of custody, PEFC certified with full chain of custody or from a proven recycled source. We have been responsibly sourcing wood and paper products for over 30 years.
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FSC® and PEFC certification requirements include rigorous checks to ensure that the forestry practices do not damage ancient forests, harm wildlife or jeopardise the future of communities who depend on the forest.
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Respecting and protecting the rights of indigenous people and people who depend on the forests are an important requirement for the FSC® and PEFC standards.
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When wood is harvested as part of a carefully prepared management plan, biodiversity can be maintained, and the forest protected for the long term.
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If it is claimed that a product is made from recycled materials, we must have 3rd party independent verification to prove that the material is genuine recycled waste.
Chain of Custody: How to be Sure
The only way to ensure that wood is harvested responsibly is through forest monitoring and Chain of Custody certification. The chain of custody process checks the flow of timber or wood-based materials through each stage of the supply chain. This requires each agent in the supply chain to complete a detailed audit and prove that they are keeping track of ‘certified material’ and that the volume of certified material is tracked up the chain.
B&Q has full chain of custody certification with both FSC® (FSC-C013937) and PEFC (PEFC/16-37-510) for all certified wood and paper products. This means that B&Q are committed to implement and maintain the chain of custody requirements in accordance with both FSC® and PEFC standards.
Look out for our chain of custody number on the till receipt or website.
Email chainofcustody@b-and-q.co.uk if you'd like to know more about the certification process.
B&Q’s FSC® Product Group Schedule for certificate number: SA-COC-008049.
B&Q’s PEFC Product Group Schedule for certificate number: SA-PEFC-COC-008049.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management through independent third-party certification.
PEFC is the world's largest forest certification system, seeking to transform the way forests are managed ensuring everyone can enjoy the environmental, social and economic benefits that forests offer.
PEFC works throughout the entire forest supply chain to promote good practice in the forest and to ensure that timber and non-timber forest products are produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards.
B&Q is proud to have full chain of custody certification with PEFC.
The Woodland Trust
In 2022 B&Q launched a partnership with the Woodland Trust to help with the restoration, protection and creation of native woodland at their Snaizeholme site in North Yorkshire. The partnership will complement our responsible sourcing targets by helping to protect native forests and improve our impact on the world around us.
