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Bauwerk strengthens its efforts for wood from controlled forest management
With its strategy of only processing wood from controlled sources by the year 2008, Bauwerk Parkett AG is continuing along a promising path.
For some years now, it has been the declared aim of the internationally active parquet manufacturer to only procure all the types of wood in its extremely wide range of products from controlled and legal forest management by the year 2008. In doing this, certified sources with recognised certificates, such as FSC, PEFC or similar labels such as CSA (Canada), AFTS (USA), are primarily taken into consideration. Dubious sources and suppliers with offers from areas of over-exploitation are excluded as a matter of principle.
As a priority, Bauwerk decided in favour of the FSC certificate that is preferred by the environmental associations. It has thereby succeeded in obtaining the 100% FSC certificate for a number of products and wood types. One year ago, Bauwerk also obtained the FSC mixed label for most of the wood types from overseas.
The FSC mixed certificate was, however, suspended for certain types of wood at the last monitoring audit. The reason: Under pressure from certain circles, the regulations for the proof of the „controlled origin“ have now become so strict and comprehensive that it has become almost impossible for an industrial processor like Bauwerk to fulfil them. For example, every individual wood batch now has to be "certified" back to the felled tree in each case. Despite intensive efforts to adapt the Bauwerk procurement process to these requirements, no success has been achieved in complying with these conditions, which are far removed from the practical situation.
Bauwerk has therefore decided, with a completely clear conscience, to declare the affected wood types using its own „Wood from controlled origin“ label of confidence, and to provisionally only make use of the FSC-mixed to certify American walnut/cherry, Canadian maple and European larch. The suspension of the FSC mixed certificate will be lifted once again on the 23rd of July.
Although Bauwerk has experienced a „rebuff“ despite its intensive efforts, its motivation and its commitment to a leading environmental standard will not be diminished by this:
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The Wood Purchasing department only works together with checked, professional timber suppliers, most of whom are chain-of-custody certified.
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Bauwerk requires an official certificate for every type of wood. Furthermore, information down the district of origin are known and filed for every type of wood as a precondition for the Bauwerk „Wood from controlled origin“ logo. |
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Bauwerk will buy all the untreated wood needed for its range of products with the FSC label, as long as it is offered in the right dimensions and quantities. The main issue with the 100% FSC label is therefore not price, but a pure procurement problem. |
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The available supply of FSC wood is well below the increasing European demand. |
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Bauwerk will not process any "unknown" exotic wood types that have not been tested by us just because they are offered to us in minimal amounts as FSC wood. |
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Bauwerk will continue to pay increasing attention to European wood, following follows the trend towards darker wood types such as steamed acacia, smoked oak and other new and „dark“ new developments, with wood types from the EU and impregnated products in the dark grey and brown range. |
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The suspended wood types will still be offered with Bauwerk's own „Wood from controlled forest management“ logo (see also the more exact Bauwerk Product Declaration). The origin of the wood type is declared on all product and packaging labels. On request, Bauwerk will be pleased to provide customers with additional information regarding the origin of the wood. |
Bauwerk supports the moves to make building owners and architects more aware of the desirability of looking for products from controlled origins when purchasing parquet. In the same way as for the BIO labels for food, however, there are also many behind-the-scenes issues of power, recognition and belief for wood labels, which do not always make it easy for consumers and producers to make the „right“ choice.
But Bauwerk will remain active here, and will maintain its leading position in the market. It will also do everything possible to improve its future range of parquet products so that all processed wood will exclusively originate from proven controlled and legal sources!
01.08.2007
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Picture: Bauwerk Megpark Walnut americain - "Wood from controlled origin".
Copyright: Bauwerk Parkett
Picture: Bauwerk Trendpark Oak terranera VITA 14, brushed, bevelled and matt lacquered» is corresponding to the trend of dark wood types and an interesting alternative to exotic wood.
Copyright: Bauwerk Parkett
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