Topic: Solutions

Responsible Wood Chain of Custody allows consumers to trace Tasmanian wood products back to their sustainable source

Sustainability, legality of timber and chain of custody are on the lips of all who work in the Tasmanian forest and timber industry. And for Tasmanians, chain of custody is a big deal.

Courtesy of Fine Timber Tasmania, a growing body of the state’s fine timber and hardwood supply chain are certified under a group Responsible Wood certification scheme. All suppliers that carry the Original Tasmanian Timber logo and Quality Tick are required to hold Chain of Custody Certification.

Managers of Fine Timber Tasmania, Brueckner Leech, Mark Leech and Eddy Willis travel extensively working with Fine Timber Tasmania licensee holders to ensure that Responsible Wood group chain-of-custody certification is maintained by licensee holders.

“Fine Timber Tasmania was introduced 10 years ago, with consumers now demanding that wood products can be traced back to a sustainable and legal source,” Mark Leech said.

“Fine Timber Tasmania uses Responsible Wood certification for chain of custody, the only certification scheme that has been endorsed as an Australian standard.

“We are a world ‘first’, a guarantee of origin for all fine timber products sourced from and produced in Tasmania.”

Numbering 30 strong, Fine Timber Tasmania is an example of collaboration in action. The system has buy-in from all major sawmills as well as manufacturers of wooden furniture, designers, makers, musical instrument makers, retailers and gallery owners.

According to Eddy Willis, having broad representation across the full supply chain is an important step in ensuring that the integrity of Responsible Wood chain of custody is maintained at all stages of production.

“All our scheme holders source timber from forests that are certified through Responsible Wood’s Sustainable Forest Management standard; through our chain of custody scheme we can monitor that chain of custody to ensure that the link is not broken.”

“Many of our licensees are using Responsible Wood certification to export their products globally. Internationally endorsed through PEFC, licensees are able to sell Tasmanian timber to global markets far and wide.”

Closer to home, a stroll through the ‘Design Tasmania’ gallery in downtown Launceston is a ‘must see’. From wall to wall, Responsible Wood certified timber and timber-based products hang proudly. Responsible Wood’s group chain of custody certification provides small operators with the opportunity to participate in the Responsible Wood certification scheme.