2017 Timber Scorecard - What progress on sustainable timber production?

2017 Timber Scorecard - What progress on sustainable timber production?

Aug 19, 2017 |Richard McPartland

The scorecard covers key sectors such as construction and home-builders as well as paper / printing and publishing, general retailers and furniture retailers.

The scorecard awards each company a score from zero trees (no apparent progress on sustainable timber and timber products) to three trees, (sourcing over 70% certified sustainable wood and have policies and control systems in place).

What are the key findings from the 2017 Timber Scorecard?

  • The construction sector leads on performance with all but one of the companies rewarded top marks.
  • A quarter of companies reviewed, scored ‘zero trees’ meaning they are failing to disclose their policies and performance on sustainable timber. This includes many of the UK’s globally recognised luxury brands.
  • 27% of companies scored only one tree meaning they are still only taking limited action to guarantee that the timber or wood products they sell are not contributing to deforestation or illegal logging. They may have a policy, but it is unclear if they are monitoring progress against this.
  • Of the 30 companies with a zero score, more than half were furniture retailers.
  • The musical instrument sector lags on performance with the highest performance only scoring a rating of one.
  • 50% of all companies reviewed scored either two or three trees, which demonstrates they are making good progress.
  • Some of the best performing companies include B&Q (Kingfisher), Boots, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer, Tetra Pak, the Co-Op, WH Smith, Morrisons, Waitrose and Balfour Beatty, showing that it is possible for big names in diverse sectors to promote sustainable timber practices.

The scorecard results and analysis

Below you can view the result tables showing the companies classified by their tree score along with information on how they scored compared to the 2015 review.

The tables also show whether the companies directly responded to requests by the study authors for information.

Download the full 2017 Timber Scorecard report

By way of comparison, you can view our report on the 2015 Timber Scorecard and download the full report.

The Timber Scorecard is part of WWF-UK's Forest campaign which seeks to raise awareness of the importance of responsible forest trade. The overriding aim being to improve company performance on securing timber and timber products from sustainable sources (with high proportions of FSC and recycled timber). The charity also offers advice through its Global Forest and Trade Network.

What to read next...

Wood
Wood: done good. A beautifully-illustrated, breathtaking, thought-provoking love letter to one of the most enduring construction materials. Join William Hall for a tour of the world's best timber architecture.

Wooden 'plyscrapers' - the rise and rise of tall timber buildings
Think of a skyscraper and you likely envisage a imposing monolithic structure made of steel and glass. Strong, sturdy, predictable. Dull? But a new wave of buildings are turning to a more traditional building material – timber – to deliver imaginative and eco-friendly projects, even at altitude.

The clear benefits of wooden windows
Swedish researchers reckon transparent wood could offer significant benefits when it comes to glazing and solar panel production in future.

Our latest articles

Visqueen launches Ultimate Self Adhesive Membrane for hydrocarbon and VOC-contaminated sites

The construction industry faces growing challenges when building on increasingly complex brownfield sites. Alongside the need for effective waterproofing, developers and contractors must now address a wider range of ground contaminants, including hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hazardous ground gases, while maintaining programme efficiency and installation quality. Against this backdrop, Visqueen has expanded its gas protection and waterproofing portfolio with the launch of Visqueen Ultimate Self Adhesive Membrane, a new hydrocarbon and VOC-resistant self-adhesive tanking membrane. Developed as the latest addition to the Visqueen non-foil gas barrier range, the new membrane combines proven gas barrier and waterproofing performance to help specifiers address multiple site challenges with a single solution.

Construction ProductsSponsored

Siderise: Helping to bridge the gap between Gateway 2 approval and on-site fire protection

While the new building safety regime hasn’t fundamentally changed what requirements higher-risk buildings (HRBs) must meet to comply with the Building Regulations, it has significantly increased the breadth, depth and volume of evidence that must be supplied to demonstrate this. As a result, project teams have had to adapt the way they work and even look beyond their roles to understand how their actions may impact the next Dutyholder in the chain. For specifiers, this can include considering what supporting services are offered with life safety-critical elements to enable correct design, installation and maintenance. Early engagement with manufacturer technical specialists can help identify any practical challenges that may arise onsite. Then, during construction, these services can help support the translation of design intent into reality so that buildings are safe for occupation.

Construction ProductsSponsored

RIBA CPD for Architects: Understanding Flooring Specification and Detailing

For architects and specifiers, flooring details can have a significant impact on the safety, accessibility, durability and overall performance of a building. Yet the technical considerations surrounding stairways, floor transitions, and floor finishes are not always straightforward.

RIBA CPDSponsored