B&Q becomes first retailer to source 100% responsibly sourced wood

After a campaign that spans over 20 years when B&Q became a founding partner of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), the retailer announces today that it is the first major UK retailer to achieve its goal of only buying timber products from proven responsible sources. Last year just over 90 per cent of B&Q’s timber products were traceable to responsible sources and from February, the UK’s largest home improvement retailer can ensure that 100 per cent of timber in their products, can be traced back to well managed sources. As the first major UK retailer to achieve this target, the pressure will now be on for others to follow suit.

B&Q started its sustainable timber campaign nearly twenty years ago when it was challenged on the sourcing of its wood. The journey to fully traceable wood products involved it becoming a founding partner of the FSC in the in the early 1990s – when there was no agreement on what well-managed forests meant. FSC is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives in recent times to promote responsible forest management worldwide. B&Q has consistently improved its timber credentials and was proud to have been awarded one of the largest chains of custody certifications under both the FSC and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) schemes in the world. B&Q is so committed to helping more forests achieve credible forest certification that it also works with organisations like The Forest Trust to help producers achieve FSC certification. When surveyed 92 per cent of customers said that they would choose responsibly sourced wood every time if they knew there was no extra cost and that is what B&Q has delivered.

From garden furniture to kitchens, over 16,000 products at B&Q contain wood – either as timber or as a wood derivative, and B&Q is now committed to only buying products that are traceable to sources that have met legal, social and environmental standards that have been independently verified. B&Q will continue to work together with suppliers and independent regulators to ensure full transparency with its timber policy. The policy applies to all timber derived products from the products obviously derived from trees like sawn timber, wallpaper, flooring, doors, furniture, hand tools, books, decking, fencing, firewood, sheds, paint brushes, windows, garden furniture, plywood to those where the wood is hidden like mirror backs, garden tools and even baths.

Source : B&Q PR