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A new initiative is promoting the use of responsibly sourced wood

Oct. 12, 2017 - The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) launched an ambitious new initiative on Wednesday to increase the use of materials from responsibly managed forests. The Vancouver Declaration allows businesses which use these natural products to pledge their commitment to increase responsible sourcing.

Global companies like IKEA, H&M, SIG, Marks and Spencer, Jysk, Mitsubishi Paper Mills or Fuji Xerox have pledged support to the initiative. The aim is to get more businesses across the entire supply chain on board.

"It's fantastic to see so many great businesses supporting this declaration," said the FSC's director general Kim Carstensen. "Our forests are a wonderful yet delicate natural resource, and a lot of people's lives depend of their sustainable and responsible use. By committing to using FSC-certified wood and forest products, our partners are helping to protect our forests – and the planet – for future generations."

IKEA's global forestry manager Mikhail Tarasov said, "IKEA is committed to only use wood from more sustainable sources (currently FSC certified and recycled) by 2020 and promote sustainable forest management beyond our own needs to make it an industry norm. This is what we call 'forest positive.' So it was natural for us to support the Vancouver Declaration. We're proud to be part of this global initiative."

The Vancouver Declaration is part of FSC's wider ambition to help businesses meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. President and general manager of SIG, Samuel Sigrist, presented the initiative at FSC's 2017 General Assembly. "We believe that this initiative, with its commitment to FSC certification, is a key tool in achieving parts of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals," he said. "We are the first in our industry to be able to display the FSC label on 100 per cent of our packs. This is a major milestone for SIG on its journey to become a 'net positive' business, helping to create more natural resources than we use."

October 12, 2017  By Forest Stewardship Council