Timbmet has always employed an environmental manager.  This person’s main task has been to deal with customer questions about the environmental credentials of our hardwoods. 

In the early days, before widespread certification, individual customers would phone in with their questions.  With the evolution of credible third party certification schemes the parameters have changed.  Today, the main task is simply auditing our suppliers, and even that task is becoming less and less relevant.  The plain fact is that if consumers of timber products want comfort in the sustainability of the product the only proof to rely on is certification.  As a responsible importer our challenge is to offer the market as much certified timber as possible at competitive prices. 

Frankly, much as we would like to sell exclusively certified timbers we understand that if the price differentials are too high nobody will pay.  That said, we have still managed to cover an amazing 46% of our inventory with competitively priced certified timbers. 

Ooh!  What of the rest I hear you ask?  It’s coming gradually but the major region that would push us towards 100% is undoubtedly the USA.  Although our American cousins have a fine track record at preserving and expanding hardwood forests they are behind when it comes to proving it through certification.  I am told that may all change quite soon.  It can’t happen a day too early so far as I am concerned.

In the meantime I take comfort in our certified inventory safe in the knowledge that our customers have the most straightforward of choices, do you want certified or not?  Making a responsible choice has never been easier.