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Australian companies join WWF’s forest and trade network


WEBWIRE

17 Oct 2006 - Sydney, Australia – In a move to encourage Australian businesses to support responsible forestry, six timber companies in have signed on to WWF’s forest and trade network in Australia.

The signatories include forest products companies ITC Limited and Timbercorp, timber importer and wholesaler Simmonds Lumber, print management business Complete Print Solutions, commercial printer Complete Colour Printing and integrated communications consultancy UP&UP Creative.

“It is great to these companies commit to eliminating from their supply chain timber products from unknown and potentially illegal sources, and to increase the amount of timber products sourced from well-managed forests,” said Jana Blair, WWF-Australia’s Forest and Trade Network Coordinator.

The Australian Forest and Trade Network (AFTN) is the local arm of the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), WWF’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging, improve the management of the world’s valuable and threatened forests, and promote credible forest certification.

“As an importer of tropical timber we recognize that our trading position gives us the opportunity to take a proactive lead in reducing the trade in illegal timber,” said Paul Elsmore, CEO, Simmonds Lumber. “Participation in the AFTN will demonstrate our commitment to encouraging responsible forestry to our customers and suppliers.”

In addition, two other forest product companies, ITC Limited and Timbercorp, have both secured Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for the bulk of their plantations.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-profit organization that provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services to companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry. Founded in 1993 by a diverse group of stakeholders, including WWF, FSC’s mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

“As a major Australian supplier of woodchips, FSC certification of our plantations demonstrates our commitment to the environment, local communities, and gains us recognition in the world market for sustainable forest products,” said John Vaughan, Executive Director, Timbercorp.

Vince Eramsus, CEO of ITC Ltm added that his company was in a good position to be able to respond to growing national and international customer demand for FSC certified forest products.

Two of the new AFTN participants — Complete Print Solutions and Complete Colour Printing — are also responding to the business demand for publications printed on FSC-certified paper.

“Our clients are increasingly seeking more environmentally responsible paper choices,” said Peter Scott, General Manager of Complete Print Solutions.

“By sourcing paper from FSC-certified forests we are supporting our eco-design and values-based approach into our communication solutions,” added Monique McNamara, Director, UP&UP Creative.

Participation in the AFTN is open to all Australian businesses that supply or use timber and paper and are seeking to support responsible forest management.

END NOTES:

• ITC Limited is a major Australian forestry company, managing over 150,000 plantation hectares throughout Australia. ITC is also Australia’s largest hardwood timber processor, receiving re-growth logs from native forests in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. In Tasmania, ITC operates a joint venture wood chips facility, Smartfibre, exporting wood chips to various customers in Asia. WWF has a corporate partnership with ITC to promote responsible forestry practices.

• Timbercorp Limited is a major Australian agribusiness investment company, managing over 80,000ha of blue gum tree plantations across three states, as well as numerous agribusiness projects.

• Simmonds Lumber is a major Australian wholesaler of domestic and imported timber. The company has appointed Certisource to undertake DNA-based third party verification to assure that the tropical timber it imports comes from known, legal sources.

• Complete Prints Solutions provides print management solutions to a large range of Australian businesses. The company has set themselves some challenging targets to audit their paper procurement supply chain and to increase the proportion of FSC certified paper they purchase.

• Complete Colour Printing is a print solutions provider, specializing in corporate publications. The company offers environmentally responsible offset and digital printing services.

• UP&UP Creative is an integrated communications consultancy. As a leader and industry advocate of eco-design practices and research, the company has a sustainable focus as well as setting corporate social responsibility project targets with and for their clients.



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