The Vancouver Declaration is an ambitious new initiative to increase the use of materials from responsibly managed forests and allows businesses who use these natural products to pledge their commitment to increase responsible sourcing.
Feroz Koor, Head of Sustainability for Woolworths Holdings Limited, says, “We are proud to be the first African retailer to sign the FSC’s Vancouver Declaration. FSC is a best-in-class certification system that enables us, and our suppliers to ensure that forest products are not sourced from illegal timber logging operations. This ultimately ensures the protection of natural forests and promotes environmental protection in commercial forestry”.
As the world’s leading forest certification organisation, the FSC label guarantees that harvested trees are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally, and that key biodiversity-rich sites are not destroyed when forest products are sourced.
Woodlands Dairy Chairman & CEO Mr Lex Gutsche said “The launch of the Vancouver declaration is a wonderful initiative which I urge all responsible businesses to pledge support to and thereby do the right thing for our planet”.
Chris Burchmore Regional Director for FSC Africa, said: “We are very happy that booth Woolworths and Woodlands responded to our call of supporting this declaration. This is signifying their commitment to using FSC-certified forest products, helping to protect both our forests and the planet our hope is to see many more African companies also signing the declaration.”
Global companies like IKEA, H&M, SIG, Marks and Spencer, Jysk, Mitsubishi Paper Mills orFuji Xerox have already pledged support to the initiative. The aim is to get more businesses across the entire supply chain on board.