Sustainable production chains: wood, 2005-2011

Wood consumption and forest biodiversity

The increasing global consumption of wood and paper products requires ever more land for production forests. About one third of all forests are now used for the production of wood and paper. Deforestation and the increased use of forests for production are increasing the pressure on forest biodiversity. In order to maintain forest biodiversity, more and more forests are being managed sustainably.

Dutch wood consumption is stable

Net domestic wood consumption has remained relatively stable since the end of the 1980s, at about 12 to 14 million cubic metres round wood equivalent, with a moderate decreasing trend in recent years. Half of this is used to produce paper and cardboard, the other half is used as timber for construction. Most of the wood (92%) used in the Netherlands is imported.

Increased use of sustainable wood in the Netherlands

Sustainable wood comes from forests that are managed in accordance with sustainable forest management criteria, predominantly under the PEFC and FSC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes and Forest Stewardship Council) management systems. In 2011, 65% of the market share of timber was produced under these two systems. One third of this (13%) was certified, which means it was sold with a certificate. The other 23% was sold with the assurance that it came from sustainably managed forests. To bring certified sustainable wood on the market, wood companies have to have a corresponding Chain of Custody Certificate (CoC). In 2008, the market share of certified wood with a CoC certificate was less than 34%. The increase is due to initiatives taken by the wood sector, FSC and PEFC and governments.

Netherlands aspires to sustainable production chains

Sustainable production chains are highlighted as an important theme in the 2008-2011 Biodiversity Policy Programme (Beleidsprogramma Biodiversiteit 2008-2011). The Dutch cabinet will focus on wood, palm oil, soy, biofuels and peat in the coming policy period. The Biodiversity Policy Programme set a market share of 50% certified sustainably produced wood as a target for 2011. This target was amply achieved. A target of 100% for government purchases was then set from 2010. With this in mind, the sustainability certificates are being tested against the Dutch government's purchasing criteria for sustainably produced timber (TPAS). Currently FSC and PEFC, with the exception of the PEFC Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), are accepted.