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sustainable material
Leaderflush Shapland is essentially a timber based manufacturing
company. Even where our products have non-timber finishes such
as laminate, metal, PVCu or paint,
the substantial mass of
our constructions will comprise timber based products.
As a natural, organic, renewable material that is also
recyclable, waste-efficient, biodegradable and non-toxic, timber
has many environmental advantages for the building industry
– and doorsets in particular.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the
atmosphere, and converting timber into building products takes
far less energy (generating less CO2) than many
other
materials.
However, there are concerns that poor management in some
countries could lead to deforestation and so a responsible
approach to timber sourcing by suppliers and manufacturers is
essential. Leaderflush Shapland was the first company in its
industry to develop and implement tracking systems independently
assessed by BM Trada to meet the requirements of the FSC Chain
of Custody scheme.
As a result, doors and doorsets can be specified using solid
timber and timber-based raw materials exclusively from
well-managed and sustainable sources, independently
certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Further information is available on the on the FSC website
www.fsc.org.
The tracking system will shortly be extended to cover other
certificated, traceable and sustainable wood materials, offering
specifiers even greater choice. In addition, Leaderflush
Shapland and its divisions do not source any timber species
prohibited under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species
(CITES). We also work closely
with our timber suppliers to meet the requirements of the
requirements of FSC controlled wood standard FSC-STD-40-00.
At Leaderflush Shapland we are proud of our extensive
involvement with timber – probably the most sustainable of
building materials available to the British building industry
today. By specifying products from Leaderflush Shapland, you can
be sure of making the most of renewable and sustainable timber
sources.
Ensuring sustainable sourcing
Leaderflush Shapland is committed to the following principles:
01. Responsibility
The company recognises
its responsibility to all customers, suppliers and staff to base
its commercial activities on well-managed forests.
02. Legality and sustainability
The company
is committed to sourcing all timber from legal sources and will
seek evidence of compliance from suppliers that avoid timber
from the following categories:
- Illegally harvested wood
- Wood harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights
- Wood harvested in forests where high conservation values are
threatened by management activities
- Wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or
non-forest use
- Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are
planted
03. Endangered species
The company will not
source any timber species prohibited under Appendix I of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
04. Traceability and supplier monitoring
The company will seek from suppliers:
- Evidence of commitment to continuous improvement in
environmental performance.
- Clearest practicable information on the sources of wood
products.
- Evidence of good forest management practice at the origin of
wood products.
05. Timber certification
The company will
only accept or use labels or certificates which include claims
of environmental soundness or sustainability if these are
supported by publicly available standards drawn up in a fully
participatory, transparent and objective manner and backed by
independent inspection.
06. Avoid boycotts
The company will not
encourage boycotts or bans on specific species of timber. Not
withstanding this, the company will cease to source any species
if its supply is found to be in breach of principles 2 or 3
above.
07. Avoid misleading claims
The company
will at all times strive to avoid misleading and unsubstantiated
environmental claims in relation to wood products supplies.
08. Preparing staff
The company will ensure
that all employees associated with timber purchasing are
encouraged to act in accordance with this Policy and are given
appropriate
education and training to do so, if required.
09. Management
The company has appointed a
Senior Executive to be responsible for the implementation of
this Policy and will ensure that environmental issues relevant
to the Policy are discussed regularly at the highest level of
management.
10. Continuous improvement
The company will
define its own programmes and establish its own objectives and
targets, to achieve continuous improvement in environmental
performance.
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