Saint-Gobain Building Distribution in the UK and Ireland

Environmental Timber Policy

Timber and timber products form a very significant part of the activity of the Building Distribution Sector of Saint-Gobain. We therefore consider it imperative that we take an informed approach to ensure responsible procurement and sales.

We purchase timber materials from around the world. Our policy is to purchase wherever possible from well managed forest sources positively participating in the protection of biodiversity of forest lands and the habitats of forest reliant peoples. However, we do recognise that some areas of the world represent greater environmental risk than others in respect of timber harvesting.

Procurement:
Saint-Gobain Building Distribution in the UK & Ireland is committed to sourcing all timber and timber products from legal sources. We seek to obtain clear evidence of good forest management practice at the original source, and give preference to those suppliers who can provide such evidence. Where customer demand dictates that we procure timber from areas of greater risk, our approach is to only work with suppliers who can demonstrate to us an improving program of sustainability in their timber related activities.

Saint-Gobain Building Distribution in the UK & Ireland acknowledges the importance of auditable independent certification throughout the supply chain process and is striving to introduce relevant schemes where appropriate to the business. We are firmly committed to a stepped approach, through the risk assessment of products by Species, Country, and Supplier, to continuously increase the sourcing of timber from known, legal, progressing to certified, and certified sources. This includes the elimination of wood originating from non-certified High Conservation Value Forests, including those species recognized as endangered, using references including the IUCN Red list, and from inappropriately cleared or converted forests.

Sales:
We actively market to our customers "Legal and Sustainable" timber products through external and internal communication, training and the use of chain of custody certification.

We endeavor to work in partnership with our suppliers to facilitate wherever practicable the provision of clear information about the sources of our wood products and will make this available to our customers when required.

An integral part of our program for continuous improvement is our activity and association with relevant leading organisations. For example we are members of the WWF-UK Forest and Trade Network.

- Saint-Gobain Building Distribution in the UK & Ireland -
Committed to maintaining a responsible approach to the procurement of timber and timber products

We seek continuous improvement to this policy. We shall determine our own objectives and targets and implement the necessary strategic programs to achieve them (2010)