Bovis Lend Lease UK (BLL) has become the first UK major contractor to achieve the FSC Chain of Custody certification allowing BLL to deliver FSC certified buildings for its clients, across the business, as it continues to lead the industry in sustainable practice.
The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is the only international, non-governmental and non-industry led organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world's forests. The FSC enables the procurement of forest products of all kinds which are not contributing to global forest destruction, and FSC certified forests are managed to ensure long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples. The FSC Chain of Custody certification provides documented traceability and assurance from the forest source, through the supply chain to the end consumer.
Following BLL's successful delivery of the first FSC certified commercial property in the world at One Wood Street, London EC2 in 2007, BLL has now achieved the FSC Chain of Custody certification for its corporate procedure which is being roll-out across the business.
Based on the model used at One Wood Street, BLL is implementing FSC Chain of Custody through the business, its contractors and supply chain. BLL is training employees and contractors in the procurement and usage of FSC timber, whilst also working with suppliers to help them meet FSC requirements for BLL's supply chain accreditation.
In addition, BLL has introduced a system across the whole business to measure timber intake on all projects, the only UK major contractor to be implementing such a scheme. Currently 84% of timber on BLL sites is FSC or recycled which means that going forward BLL is fast progressing towards achieving its goal of 100% usage of
FSC timber across 100% of the business.
Dr Paul Toyne, Head of Sustainability, Bovis Lend Lease UK commented: "Forest destruction is a key sustainability issue and 70% of timber used annually in the UK is for construction. Using FSC timber ensures we are not contributing to this destruction. This certification adds real value to our client service offering by clearly demonstrating that we can competently deliver FSC certified buildings.
"This achievement is part of our long term aspiration to deliver developments and building that have low environment impacts and provide sustainable social outcomes through employment of people in sustainable forest management."
Beck Woodrow, FSC UK Construction Advisor, said "I am delighted that Bovis Lend Lease has become the first major UK contractor to achieve FSC Chain of Custody certification. The energy and dedication they have given to ensuring that increasing amounts of FSC timber are used, and in bringing suppliers on board, is truly inspiring and should be an example to the rest of the construction sector of what can be done. Only having Chain of Custody certification - complete from forest to building site - gives assurance that the timber used today comes from forests which will be protected for the future".