Procurement Policies
Buy FSC-labeled products: the best thing you can do for our forests.
A responsible purchasing program for forest products should aim to improve the environmental and social performance of the supply base by ending the purchase of forest products from illegal or controversial sources and by continuously increasing the proportion of those products purchased from credibly certified forests.
An environmental policy should make reference to the following:
- The traceability of forest products within the supply chain;
- The elimination of products from illegally harvested timber;
- The elimination of forest products from high conservation value forests that are not credibly certified;
- The elimination of forest products sourced from forests that are being inappropriately cleared or converted; and
- Continuously raising the proportion of forest products that originate from well managed, credibly certified forests.
Procurement Policies Specifying FSC
- Alberta, Ministry of Environment
- Belgium
- Dell
- Government of Manitoba
- Home Depot
- Ikea
- Kodak
- L.L. Bean
- Lowe's Home Centres
- Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources
- New York City, Selective Wood Procurement Legislation, Bill #784
- Nike
- Norm Thompson
- Parks Canada, Georgian Bay Islands National Park
- United Kingdom
- William's Sonoma Inc.
Alberta, Ministry of Environment (back to top)
Policy Statement: Alberta Environment will produce all Ministry publications on materials made of the highest practical content (minimum 30 percent) of recycled and/or post-consumer materials, and will give preference to printing companies who can produce publications on materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Goal: By the end of the 2006 fiscal year, Alberta Environment will:
- Produce all internal and external publications on paper that is FSC-certified and contains the highest practical content of recycled and/or post-consumer materials
- Display the recycled content logo on all of its publications
- Ensure that all publications ordered through the Visual Identities Office (Public Affairs Bureau) contain recycled and/or post-consumer materials and routinely display the recycled content logo in addition to the Alberta Environment logo
- Ensure that all the Ministry’s Requests for Proposals routinely state that any written reports or publications to be submitted to Ministry officials are printed on the highest practical content of recycled and/or post-consumer materials
Scope: These Guidelines will apply to all of the Ministry’s internal and external publications. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Official letterhead, envelopes, and other stationary products
- Employee business cards
- The Ministry’s program/educational/promotional brochures and posters
Where available at a reasonable cost, Alberta Environment will produce publications on 100 percent recycled and/or post-consumer content materials.
Belgium (back to top)
November 2005: "Any wood originating from forests where the sustainable management is certified by independent institutions according to internationally recognised criteria." Download as .pdf (in French only)
Dell (back to top)
Effective October 2004. Excerpt from the "Dell Forest Products Stewardship Model":
"Dell prefers paper suppliers that use a significant mix of fiber certified to sustainable forestry standards and endorsed by a broad spectrum of environmental and social NGOs which incorporate credible science into their approaches. Currently the only standard that we feel is broadly endorsed by NGOs is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standard. Dell adopts a preference for certified products over non-certified products in general and will work to increase purchases of FSC (or other certification schemes that develop equivalent or higher standards) products for its paper purchases. It will encourage suppliers to aggressively pursue FSC (or similarly recognized) certification for all operations. Dell’s long-term goal is to have all of its forest product suppliers certified to FSC or similarly recognized
standards. Dell is committed to an ongoing understanding of certification standards and awareness of their level of endorsement and acceptance.
Dell seeks to minimize its impacts on forests through all of its operations. Toward this end, Dell commits to develop overarching wood and paper products practices, where applicable, to ensure that it is not impacting endangered forests, and to promote the procurement of FSC certified products, throughout its operations, including but not limited to: merchandise, packaging, store construction and remodeling."
View the full procurement policy here (.pdf).
Government of Manitoba (back to top)
June 2006, excerpt from Green Building Policy: "All building projects covered by this policy shall achieve a minimum of a Silver rating under the Canada Green Building Council’s 'LEED® Canada NC Version 1.0 Green Building Rating System for New Construction and Major Renovations'."
Links:
Sustainability Development Act: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/s270e.php
Home Depot (back to top)
Excerpt from Wood Purchasing Policy:
"We sell more FSC certified wood than any retailer in America and at the same time we have transitioned more vendors to FSC certified wood than any other retailer in America. We began to give preferential treatment to certified products in 1999. In addition, we have shifted buying wood from questionable sources to companies that practice responsible forestry. Implementing the policy meant making minor changes to our wood supply chain and rewarding companies that practice responsible forestry.
FSC-certified products are available in Home Depot stores across Canada and the United States.
Ikea (back to top)
2004 Social Responsiblity report excerpt:
"IKEA imposes strict rules governing the use of high-value tropical tree species. At present these must be certified in accordance with a standard for responsible forest management. The only current standard that meets the long-term aims of IKEA is that of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)."
Kodak (back to top)
Excerpt from the Forest Products Procurement Policy:
"Our suppliers already have or are actively seeking certifications from bodies accredited by the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or are working closely with environmental, indigenous, and social interests to develop FSC standards or comparable standards where none exist"
L.L. Bean (back to top)
"L.L.Bean will source all paper from responsibly managed forests. To verify that best practices are employed, we seek third party certification. We recognize that there are multiple certification systems in place and not all certifications are right for all situations. We give preference to fiber certified under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards when feasible, based on market conditions."
Lowe's Home Centres (back to top)
"Lowe's forest products purchasing policy commits Lowe's to: Aggressively phase out purchases coming from endangered forests as these areas are identified and mapped (working with WRI);
- An immediate ban on wood coming from the Great Bear Rainforest;
- Give preference to the procurement of wood products from independently certified, well-managed forests. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is recognized as having the highest certification standards available today and will be given preference over other certification systems;
- Promote wood re-use, recycling and advanced wood use efficiency home construction framing techniques;
- Work with suppliers to increase quality recycled, engineered and alternative products with clear environmental benefits such as ag-straw board and papers. "
Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources (back to top)
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/forestry/aitkin/index.html
In October 1997, Minnesota DNR Aitkin County Forestry and the Aitkin County Land Department became the first forest managers in the State of Minnesota, and the second public land forest managers in the United States, to receive SmartWood certification (an international program of the Rainforest Alliance) for meeting stringent international forest stewardship standards. This independent certification program, initiated by the international Forest Stewardship Council, evaluates forest management practices, including long-term forest management planning, biodiversity protection, economic viability, and community relations. It is anticipated that this process will provide a model for certification and planning in other Minnesota DNR Forestry offices in the future.
New York City, Selective Wood Procurement Legislation, Bill #784
(back to top)
A local law to amend the administrative code of the City of New York in relation to the city contracts involving the purchase of wood products and materials. City Council Speaker Peter Vallone introduced legislation that would encourage the procurement of environmentally preferable and socially responsible building materials and require the procurement of third- party certified building materials instead of non-certified wood products whenever practicable.
Introduced on July 27th, 2000, the bill defines environmentally preferable building materials as recycled products, reclaimed wood and biobased materials (agricultural residues and on-purpose crops). While the bill has obvious environmental benefits, it also promotes socially responsible procurement. By encouraging recycling and agricultural-based products businesses and jobs are created for America’s struggling urban areas and America’s farmers who are also facing difficult economic times. Similarly, the use of FSC certified wood products ensures the consumer that social principles including core labor standards and indigenous and community rights are recognized.
Links:
www.nyccouncil.info
http://webdocs.nyccouncil.info/textfiles/Int%200784-2000.htm?CFID=266171&CFTOKEN=57665637
Nike (back to top)
Nike’s Forest Products Policy, adopted in 1998, reads:
- Nike will give purchasing preference, where price and availability allow, to wood and paper products that originate in forests that have been independently certified as being well-managed. Nike will recognize only those certifications issued by organizations accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
- Nike aims to eliminate from its purchasing practice those materials derived from wood or pulp originating in native old growth or frontier forests. Examples of products that may derive from such wood or pulp include (but are not limited to) paper, paperboard, lumber, furniture, cellophane tape, and acetate.
- Nike has become a member of the Certified Forest Products Council (CFPC) and will work with CFPC to develop an action plan that will help us define, develop, and implement responsible forest products purchasing practices and work with our suppliers to meet our needs.
- Nike will benchmark its paper consumption to determine paper usage, types, and origins. Targets will be set for reducing per-capita paper usage and for increasing, where feasible, the use of tree-free papers. Nike will conduct a similar benchmarking process for non-paper forest products.
Norm Thompson (back to top)
Paper Procurement Policy excerpt:
"The only standard that is currently broadly endorsed by NGOs is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Other schemes that meet broad NGO endorsement will also receive preferential treatment. Until that time, we intend to use FSC certified papers and promote the FSC logo in our marketing materials and will continuously increase our use of FSC fiber. Toward that end, we are pursuing the following goals:
- During 2004 it is our goal to source 2.5% of the virgin fiber used in our catalogs from FSC certified sources;
- During 2005 it is our goal to source 10% of the virgin fiber used in our catalogs from FSC certified (or equivalent) sources;
- By the end of 2010 it is our goal to be sourcing at least 25% of the virgin fiber used in our catalogs from FSC certified (or equivalent) sources.
Parks Canada, Georgian Bay Islands National Park
(back to top)
Project Purpose:
The Contractor will deliver 1,500 bags of seasoned, split firewood to the Georgian Bay Islands National Park office at 2611 Muskoka Road 5, Honey Harbour, Ontario. Delivery will be in three (3) equal shipments of 500 bags per shipment between the period of June 1 to August 3, 2006 & three (3) equal shipments of 500 bags per shipment between the period of May 30 to August 2, 2007. The Contractor will provide documentation (i.e. an FSC Chain of Custody number) proving the wood was harvested in an FSC-certified forest.
Responsibilities of the Contractor:
It is the responsibility of the Contractor to:
- Provide documentation (i.e. a FSC Chain of Custody number) proving that all the bagged firewood was harvested in an FSC-certified forest upon award of contract.
- Forward any wording, logos, symbols or markings to appear on the mesh bags, or placed in the mesh bags, to the Project Manager for approval.
- Deliver the bagged firewood to the Georgian Bay Islands National Park office at 2611 Muskoka Road 5, Honey Harbour, Ontario, on the dates and in the amounts specified below in Period of Service.
Responsibilities of the Project Manager:
It is the responsibility of the Project Manager to:
- Answer questions and provide clarification regarding the Statement of Work/Terms of Reference.
- Approve or reject any wording, logos, symbols or markings to appear on the mesh bags, or placed in the mesh bags.
- Verify documentation provided by the Contractor.
Ensure personnel meet the Contractor at the Georgian Bay Islands National Park office at 2611 Muskoka Road 5, Honey Harbour, Ontario to accept the bagged firewood.
United Kingdom (back to top)
Present UK Government policy is set out in a statement made by the then Environment Minister on 28 July 2000. The statement binds all central government departments and agencies “actively to seek to buy timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources.” The statement refers to sources certified under the FSC scheme as an example of ‘legal and sustainable’ sources. The statement also binds each central government department to report annually on its timber purchases and to explain what steps it is taking to pursue this objective; the quantity and types of its purchases; and what assurances it has received that the source of timber is sustainable and legal.
The statement was followed in August 2000 with the guidance “Timber: Buyers’ Questions Answered”. The guidance recommends that government bodies “purchase sustainably produced timber (and timber products such as joinery, fittings, furniture and veneers) by, for example, specifying in orders and contracts that suppliers provide documentary evidence (which has been, or if necessary can be, independently verified) that it has come from sustainably managed sources. That is, the timber has been lawfully obtained and has come from forests and plantations which are managed to sustain their biodiversity, productivity and vitality, and to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous or forest-dependent people. The documentary evidence asked for might take the form of a certificate issued under a credible, preferably independent, verification scheme, or other documents which demonstrate the operation of an environmental management system incorporating forest management criteria that conform with internationally recognised principles such as the Helsinki Guidelines.” Buyers are also required to ensure that timber procurements are in accordance with international agreements such CITES.
UK Model Contract Specification Clause
Timber and products containing wood supplied under the Contract
The Contractor shall ensure that no timber or wood contained in any product it procures shall have derived from any species of tree that is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) unless the supplier can prove, by producing official documentation, that he has complied with the CITES requirements that permit trading in the particular species of tree so listed under that Convention.
All timber and wood, other than recycled timber and wood, supplied to the Contractor shall derive from trees or other plants that have been harvested and exported in strict accordance with the applicable law or laws of the country in which the trees or other plants grew. The Contractor shall require the supplier to obtain documentary evidence to prove such legality and to prove that the evidence does in fact match the products supplied by establishing a chain of custody from the source of the timber and wood through to delivery of the final product.
The Contractor shall ensure that only timber and wood that derive from trees or plants that were grown in forests or plantations that were managed to (a) sustain their biodiversity, productivity and vitality and (b) to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous forest-dependent people is used. The Contractor shall obtain documentary evidence to demonstrate that this requirement has been met.
It is the Contractor’s responsibility to produce documentary evidence, in respect of these requirements, that will enable the Authority to verify the authenticity and credibility of the claims being made. The Contractor shall, if requested by the Authority, obtain independent verification of the claims being made and shall meet the full costs involved in so doing. In this context “independent” means a body or organisation that is accepted by the Authority as having the competence and capacity to provide an objective assessment of the evidence presented and as having no interests that would conflict with their duty to provide impartial advice. One way in which the Authority will accept that the Contractor has met his obligations in proving the source of his timber and wood products is if those products are certified, by properly accredited organisations, as meeting the standards set by the Forest Stewardship Council or such other standards set by such other bodies as are listed in the Contract Specification.
William's Sonoma Inc. (back to top)
"Our suppliers already have or are actively seeking certifications from bodies accredited by the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), or are working closely with environmental, indigenous, and social interests to develop FSC standards or comparable standards where none exist. [...] we anticipate to be able to attain 15% FSC certification by the end of 2006."
Links
- 'Guide to Responsible Purchasing of Forest product' of the WWF Global Forest and Trade Network. Download here.
- 'A Common Vision for Transforming the Paper Industry". Ratified at the 2002 Environmental Paper Summit by over 80 environmental organizations, this document identifies four overarching goals of environmental paper procurement: minimizing consumption, clean production, responsible fiber sourcing and maximizing post-consumer recycled content. Download here.
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