Meyer International, the UK's largest timber trader, announced that it will only
purchase FSC-certified timber.
The UK is the second largest net importer of timber in the world, and Meyer is "central" to this industry, WWF UK forestry campaigner Steve Howard said. He predicted the announcement would have knock-off effects worldwide - Meyer sources timber from 40 countries.
Meyer, which owns the Jewsons and Harcross chains, pledged that 80 percent of its timber will be FSC-certified within five years. According to Amanda Burton of Meyer, the firm has "always kept a close eye on the development of certification and now, as FSC is entering the mainstream we can see it presents an exciting commercial opportunity."
