Good wood guide checklist

Step 3: Buy locally produced timber products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified

 
Introduction to the Good wood guideChecklist for buying and using wood timberLinks to sources of information on wood and timberOrder the book of the Good wood guideAcknowledgements

 

Step 3: Buy locally produced timber products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified

If you can't find recycled timber for your DIY and woodworking projects, the next best environmental choice is local FSC certified timber.

Why is locally grown timber better?

Timber from closer to home requires less transportation from the forest. The carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by traffic has a dramatic effect on climate change. The further the travel, the higher the CO2 emissions.

To see if it's local, check our A-Z of different types of wood.

What is FSC certification?

FSC certification sets the strongest available standard for new wood.

In many cases it guarantees your timber has been sourced sustainably from well-managed forests.

But there have been reports that some FSC certificates are failing to guarantee rigorous environmental and social standards.

Friends of the Earth is supporting a review of the FSC scheme to ensure the highest standards in all cases.

The best environmental choice is to repair or adapt an existing item, use reclaimed timber or buy locally-grown wood.

If you must buy new, selecting FSC certified products over others will send a powerful message to the timber industry and governments that you don't want timber that comes from destructive logging.

If the FSC certification was working as intended it:

  • is a globally recognised scheme
  • is fully participatory, with transparent and open processes
  • uses performance-based standards
  • has rigorous, independent assessment process, including stakeholder consultation and on-going monitoring.

How do I know it's FSC certified?

All FSC timber carries the FSC logo.

 

  

Related links

FSC UK News and information from the UK Forest Stewardship Council.

UK Listings of FSC retailers.

FSC International News and information from the Global Forest Stewardship Council.

Global Trees Campaign Focusing on saving endangered tree species.

BRE Building Research Establishment, includes
Materials Information Exchange and SMART assessment programmes.

Or see our full list of Good wood guide links.

If you can't use locally produced FSC certified timber, then use FSC certified timber from further afield.  Step 4 >

Image: © Edward Parker