Thursday, November 27, 2008

Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-based Products

Source: http://www.sustainableforestprods.org/

Download the Full Reports

Forest products are renewable goods that store carbon and have in most cases a lower environmental footprint than non-wood products. Well-managed forests provide numerous ecosystem services and societal benefits. The production of forest products can, however, cause significant negative side effects if not conducted in a legal and sustainable basis.

The World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development have partnered to provide reliable, impartial and technically "easy-to-understand" information to assist sustainability officers and business procurement managers, especially major purchasers of wood and paper-based products, in their purchasing decisions.

This guide focuses on 10 key issues:

Sourcing and Legality Aspects

Origin
Where do the Products Come From?
Information accuracy
Is information about the products credible?
Legality
Have the products been legally produced?

Environmental Aspects

Sustainability
Have forests been sustainably managed?

Special places
Have special places, including sensitive ecosystems, been protected?

Climate change
Have climate issues been addressed?

Environmental protection
Have appropriate environmental controls been applied?

Recycled fiber
Has recycled fiber been used appropriately?

Other resources
Have other resources been used appropriately?

Social Aspects

Local communities and indigenous peoples
Have the needs of local communities or indigenous peoples been addressed?