A new law aims to prevent illegal tropical timber from being imported into Europe. Many importers use the guideline to certify the legal origin of their tropical wood. However, research by the environmental organization Greenpeace now shows that the law is being massively misused for “green washing”.
Robber wood despite new law
According to Greenpeace, for example, around 80 percent of the wood in the Brazilian state of Pará comes from illegal raw dung. German companies also imported wood from there, which could be imported with forged papers despite the Timber Trade Protection Act. Also in the World Trade Center in Geneva and in the National Library in Paris, overexploited timber from the tropics was used with forged papers. Jannes Stoppel, forest expert at Greenpeace says: "Our research shows that wood that comes from the Brazilian Amazon and is sold in Europe and America is not to be trusted." Illegal logging is the first step towards widespread deforestation. The rainforest is being destroyed, animals and plants are being driven out. The consequences are massive social and ecological problems. In a video, Greenpeace explains how the European and American timber industry is destroying the ecosystem and subsequently portraying illegal tropical timber as ecological:
Best protection: FSC® 100%
A forest management with sustainable principles can protect the rainforest in the long term and increase the global forest areas. The prerequisites are not only legal but also sustainable management rules - and their independent control. Environmental protection organizations such as Greenpeace and Robin Wood have developed a reliable seal that guarantees compliance with legal, social and ecological criteria: the FSC®-100% seal. For people who
Tropical wood decking,
Wooden tiles and
Cutting boards If you want to buy from ecological forestry, FSC®-100% should be a prerequisite - so that you don't have to rely solely on the promises of the dealer. at Betterwood we only import tropical wood with an FSC® certificate to promote sustainable forest management and give illegal tropical wood no chance. Read Greenpeace's post here:
“Illegal timber imports are booming”.
