Illegal tropical timber is booming – FSC® protects

A new law aims to prevent the import of illegal tropical timber into Europe. Many importers use the directive to certify the legal origin of their tropical timber. However, research by the environmental protection organization Greenpeace now shows that the law is being massively abused for “green-washing”.

Predatory timber despite new law

According to Greenpeace, for example, around 80 percent of timber in the Brazilian state of Pará comes from illegal logging. German companies have also imported timber from there, which could be imported with forged documents despite the Timber Trade Security Act. The World Trade Center in Geneva and the National Library in Paris were also built with timber from the tropics using 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 result is massive social and ecological problems. In a video, Greenpeace explains how the European and American timber industry is destroying the ecosystem and presenting illegal tropical timber as ecological after the fact:

Greenpeace about the amazon

Best protection: FSC® 100%

Forest management based on sustainable principles can protect the rainforest in the long term and increase global forest areas. This requires not only legal but also sustainable management rules – and independent monitoring. 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 from ecological forestry, FSC®-100% should be a prerequisite – so that you don’t have to rely solely on the promises made by retailers. At Betterwood, we only import FSC®-certified tropical timber to promote sustainable forest management and prevent illegal tropical timber from entering the market.

Read the Greenpeace article here: “Illegal timber imports are booming” .