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Policy | Environmental Impact | Purchasing
Policy
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.
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
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- 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.
- Select Veneers is a FSC chain of custody supplier (SA-COC-0975-SVL)
and also promotes veneers from other schemes such as PEFC.
FSC Trademark © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.
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