BMF joins with WWF

Builders merchants’ trade association the Builders Merchants Federation is joining with WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network in the UK to promote responsible forest trade throughout the merchant supply chain.

The partnership will see the two organisations working together to bring about better industry practices and encourage a commitment to sustainability in the merchant sector.

GFTN-UK will share its expertise and knowledge with BMF members, helping them to exercise due diligence on their supply chains for forest goods.

BMF managing director, John Newcomb said: “Timber is a core product category for general builders merchants, second only in importance to heavyside materials such as bricks and blocks, and we will be working with GFTN-UK to encourage merchants to consider environmental and sustainability issues as part of their purchasing policy.”

He added: “Responsible purchasing is one of the BMF’s key goals for the industry. Many merchants already consider sustainability as a matter of course, but we have a responsibility to encourage every one of them to do so. GFTN-UK can help them ask the right questions to find out where their products are coming from, so they will know if they are sourcing from sustainable forests.”

Julia Young, Manager GFTN-UK, said: “We’re excited to be collaborating with the BMF to create a thriving, mainstream market for environmentally and responsible forest products within the building industry.”

GFTN-UK will also host the next BMF Timber Forum on Tuesday May 10 at its HQ and visitor centre, the Living Planet building in Woking, Surrey.