07/05/2025
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Iain McIlwee, BWF Chief Executive Officer
Almost 200 people filled the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons on Monday for a forest-themed reception as part of WWF’s Forest Campaign. The reception, held on the second anniversary of the EU Timber Regulation, served as an excellent reminder, not just for those of us in the industry, but politicians, stakeholders and our customers, of just how important it is to work together to ensure that timber is legally, ethically and sustainably sourced. This is true of virtually all of the timber we use today, but we cannot be complacent as a sector and return to the darker days – we have a fabulous sustainable story to tell and getting it wrong creates negative press that undermines the over-riding truth.
Photo of Iain McIlwee, BWF CEO (m) with Steve Cooke, Principal Sustainable Development Manager Manager of Wilmott Dixon (l) and Ian Dodd, Sustainability Manager of Lend Lease (r) at the event.
Ahead of the General Election, WWF-UK is calling for politicians to take action to enable a market in 100% legal and sustainable timber by 2020. WWF's Forest Campaign, which since its public launch in December has been supported by over 50,000 members of the public, has already secured backing from 34 influential businesses which have pledged to buy their timber and wood-based products from sustainable sources by 2020. Together with public and business supporters, WWF is calling for action by the UK and EU to ensure that there is a level playing field for all businesses engaged in responsible forest trade.
The reception launched the campaign’s political asks, including the closing of loopholes in the EU Timber Regulation so that all wood-based products imported into Europe are from legal sources. At present the Regulation does not cover several major product groups such as seating, printed material and musical instruments.
WWF-UK, along with business and other stakeholders, has identified and developed a number of mechanisms that would encourage or require business and government to procure wood-based products from sustainably-managed forests. The reception attracted over 55 MPs from all parties with other guests including leaders in responsible forest trade from business, local authorities and civil society.
Richard Gillies, Group Sustainability Director, Kingfisher plc said,
“As businesses we do not believe there is a trade-off between sustainability and growth. We do not believe there is a trade-off between sustainability and jobs. From businesses in this room and I hope I speak for all of them, we see sustainability as the only route to long term and short term sustainable growth.”
Lord de Mauley, international minister for forests in Defra said,
“Preventing illegal logging and promoting sustainable timber production is of fundamental importance to the world we live in.
“This year the EUTR is being reviewed, presenting government, NGOs, civil society and industry with a great opportunity to bear down further on the illegal timber trade and deforestation. We will continue to press in the EU for better implementation of the EUTR by all member states. And we will be looking for the best ways to increase its effectiveness, such as widening its product coverage.”
David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF-UK, said,
”Forests underpin the health and the wellbeing and the livelihoods of people and indeed our planet, and yet as we know you can buy products here in the UK, whether its chairs books or cards, which may have come from illegal or unsustainably sourced wood, so we are very grateful to the 50,000 people who have signed are petition saying it’s time to say no to this nonsense.”
Hilary Benn MP made a very encouraging speech on the progress that has been made and applauded our friends at the Timber Trade Federation particularly for their responsible sourcing system that has helped to drive improvement.
The reception was hosted in association with Kingfisher, M&S, James Latham, and Saint-Gobain.
For more information visit: https://www.wwf.org.uk/how_you_can_help/campaign_with_us/forest_campaign/
