Okamura Formulates a Policy for Sustainable Use of Timber

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A major Japanese office furniture maker, Okamura Corp., announced on October 27, 2009, that the company and its affiliates formulated the Okamura Timber Use Policy, which aims to eliminate the use of illegally logged timber and ensure efficient use of timber and wood-based materials from properly managed forests for their products. The company intends to consider forest ecosystems, and to promote the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of trees through their core business based on this policy.

The policy stipulates that the following timbers should not be used for the products: endangered tree species listed in the criteria of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, also known as the Washington Convention); timbers that are illegally logged, produced and sold; and timbers that affect the forest ecosystem or local society. To promote the use of timbers, it also recommends timbers with reliable forest authentications, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC), domestic and local timbers, and wood-based materials using wood from thinning forests, mill ends, building waste and others.

Following the formulation of this policy, Okamura and affiliated companies plan to expand production using domestic and local timbers. In addition to the existing checks for timber legality and accreditation of timber companies, they intend to reexamine legality, tree species, country of origin and other criteria in fiscal 2009, for all of their wood products, which are targets of the Green Purchasing Law.

Okamura Corp. official website
http://www.okamura.co.jp/english/

Posted: 2010/01/18 06:00:15 AM