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News Release from: Norbord | Subject: UK trade in Chinese plywood
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 October 2006
UK trade in Chinese plywood killing our
future
Greenpeace's investigation into the UK trade in Chinese plywood reveals the devastation wrought on people and their environment - comment by Norbord.
It's not often that big business and Greenpeace see eye-to-eye but in the case of the environmentally responsible management of the world's forests, Norbord whole heartedly supports the charity's campaign to stop illegal logging Norbord's Environmental, Health and Safety Director Steve Roebuck explained: "There is a lot of overlap between Greenpeace's campaign to highlight the issue of illegal logging and our lobbying through the Wood Panel Industry Federation (WPIF) to halt the import of plywood made from these sources
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 29 Sep 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Investigation into the UK trade in Chinese plywood
Greenpeace's investigation into the UK trade in Chinese plywood reveals the devastation wrought on people and their environment - comment by Norbord.
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"While Greenpeace is trying to win the hearts and minds of the public and opinion formers to stop this trafficking, we are trying to put pressure on the government to recognise that timber and plywood from these sources is having a significant impact by undermining our business in the UK.
"At Norbord, we ensure that virgin wood is sourced only from sustainably managed forests and our products are certified to the internationally-recognised Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and carry the FSC label".
However, this environmentally responsible approach, which is part of Norbord's corporate values and beliefs, comes at a cost.
Its high quality engineered products cannot compete on cost with some of these illegal imports of plywood that are currently entering the UK market.
"All we are asking for is a level playing field," added Steve.
Greenpeace has identified China as the principal villain in this activity.
Organisations, which can only be described as criminal according to Greenpeace, are destroying virgin forestland, particularly in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea".
The timber is transported to China where it processed into plywood.
Plywood from these sources is regularly shipped to Europe and the UK.
Norbord again cautions its customers to ensure that the material they are selling conforms to UK building regulations, including CE marking for construction purposes.
While the Greenpeace and Norbord campaigns may be different, there is definitely one thing that both organisations agree to promote: FSC approved timber products.
"We will continue to lobby the government through the WPIF all-party parliamentary group to stop these illegal imports," comments Steve Roebuck.
Want to know more?.
Read the Greenpeace report on illegal logging: 'Partners in Crime'. Request a free brochure from Norbord ...
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