Sustainability

Conserving resourses

Protecting the Environment

Our FSC forestry certification program works to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that live within them by implementing better business practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainability. In addition we can also offer PEFC certified veneers.

• Select Veneers supplies FSC Pure and FSC Mixed Veneers under our Certificate No. SGS-COC-003229
• We supply FSC Controlled Wood under Certificate No. SGS-CW-003229
• We are accredited under PEFC: SGS-COC/PEFC-0144

You can download copies of our certificates using the links over on the left of this page.

FSC is the world’s leading forest certification system. FSC’s system ensures that forests are harvested and maintained in a well-managed manner, and that recreational, social, economic and local needs are considered. By using FSC certified wood, we are supporting better management of the World’s Forests.

Environmental Policy

Select Veneers sources and supplies a comprehensive range of hardwood and softwood veneers. The company is also a leading supplier of veneer layons and a range of veneered panels.

Select Veneer’s entire business is based on wood veneer products and the company is committed to protecting the long-term future of timber as a valuable material and resource. Select Veneers recognises its responsibilities to the environment, internationally, nationally and locally, and has a clearly defined environmental policy, which is updated regularly.

First Principles

Select Veneers’ environment policy is based on a number of principles which underpin the company’s philosophy:

• In all areas of activity Select Veneers will operate in full compliance with the laws of the United Kingdom and of the countries with which Select Veneers trades.
• In all areas of activity, Select Veneers will operate with honesty, integrity and a policy of fair trading.
• Select Veneers is committed to achieving progressive improvements in its environmental performance reducing any negative impacts its activities have on the environment in a phased and controlled manner.
• Select Veneers believes passionately in the environmental benefits of using timber and wood products compared with alternative products.

Veneer’s Environmental Impact

Virtually all criticism of veneer focuses on the issue of deforestation. Select Veneers recognizes the imperfections in forest management worldwide and is committed to assisting in the process of improvement. Nevertheless compared to steel, concrete, aluminium, plastic and other alternatives, Select Veneers strongly believes that veneer causes less environmental damage when measured on a true life-cycle analysis.

Veneer is renewable. It is natural, organic, non-toxic, and waste-efficient. It can be re-cycled and it biodegrades safely. Trees process carbon dioxide emissions through photosynthesis to produce life-sustaining oxygen and reduce the threat of global warming. Veneer allows timber resources to be used very efficiently compared with sawn timber. The output of finished product is increased by a factor of thousands. Most wood veneer is 0.6rnm thick compared with several centimetres for sawn timber. Veneer allows a timber logs to be utilised much more efficiently. Given these criteria, Select Veneers believes that it is environmentally beneficial to contribute to a free, international trade in veneers, which recognises the importance of the forest resource for today and for the future.

General Environmental Policy

Select Veneers is committed to improving the environmental impact of all its operations. Select Veneers will seek to reduce waste and where possible eliminate waste. This will be achieved through efficient utilisation of raw materials and by promoting European and North American species. Select Veneers will ensure awareness amongst all its employees and observe environmental regulatory standards.

Purchasing Policy

Select Veneers sources hardwood and softwood veneers from many different countries. The company is aware of the criticisms of and development in forest policies and management in different counties. Select Veneers recognizes the situation varies from country to country. Select Veneers’ purchasing policy is therefore based on general principles which apply internationally.

• Select Veneers will endeavour to trace the forest source of all veneer supplies. This entails working closely with the veneer cutting mills, who in turn must work closely with logging companies, log suppliers and agents, and forest and land owners.
• Select Veneers will only source from suppliers who are operating in accordance with the laws of their country, specifically those laws concerning forest management and development, environmental and wildlife protection and indigenous people’s rights.
• Select Veneers will not trade in any timber prohibited under CITES legislation.
• Select Veneers is giving priority and preference in its choice of suppliers to mills that use log companies providing evidence of good forest management and reforestation programmes. .
• Select Veneers does no claim it uses ‘sustainable’ veneers. Since no internationally agreed definition of sustainability has been agreed the company refers to ‘well managed’ forests but only when it has supporting evidence.
• Select Veneers supports international efforts to improve forest management for example in the development of credible timber certification schemes.

FSC Trademark ©1996 Forest Stewardship Council AC.