Chatham HouseChatham HouseProject Certification Project Certification

10 July10 July 2007 2007

Alasdair McGregorProduct/Timber Business

Manager BM TRADA Certification

Ltd

How not to do it - The Scottish ParliamentHow not to do it - The Scottish Parliament

A warning from WWFA warning from WWF

• WWF in Scotland is stepping up pressure on MSPs monitoring Scotland's new parliament building to ensure that the £1 million-worth of timber needed for Holyrood's doors, floors and windows will all come from sustainable forests. However, the Holyrood Progress Group has so far refused to specify FSC-certified timber for use on this massive project, despite the fact that the building is planned to be an "environmental exemplar".

"If the Parliament doesn't sign up for FSC timber, there is no way of verifying its pedigree" explained Adam Harrison. "It could, for example, be unknowingly helping the decline of rainforests.”

WWF Scotland Press Release August 2001

Holyrood Horrors Holyrood Horrors

• Start Price - £85m• Finish Price - £435m• Projected construction period - 3 years• Actual construction period - 5 years• Timber from“Certified sustainable sources”

specified • Specification ignored by Management

Contractor• Total volume of verified certified timber

used - zero

The Debating Chamber - European OakThe Debating Chamber - European Oak

European Oak - the supply chain European Oak - the supply chain

• Source forests - France and Germany• Small amount UK Sourced• No requirement for chain of custody • No checks at contract stage• no checks at site level• No objective evidence• Request for retrospective review by

Audit Scotland

The supply chain - some gapsThe supply chain - some gaps

• Forests -France & Germany- FSC/ PEFC / non certified (UK - possibly FSC)

• Harvesting contractors (not certified)• Sawmills (not certified)• Importers (Certified!)• Merchant (not certified)• Joinery / Shoplifting contractors (not

certified)• Building Contractor (not certified)

Holyrood - the final outcomeHolyrood - the final outcome

• No objective evidence of the use of certified timber

• No claims possible• No benchmark for future projects• Huge missed opportunity

• Responsibility – Scottish Executive and the Management Contractor

Who Cares?Who Cares?

• Government (CPET)

• ENGOs

• The Timber Industry

• Users of wood products

Project Certification - possible solution Project Certification - possible solution

• FSC - STD-40-006/ PEFC version imminent

• Targeted at construction contracts - Clarifies

the role of the builder in the supply chain

• Certification covers the period of the contract

• Full / partial certification

• 50% of the value /volume of timber used in the

contract (Controlled Wood)

Project certification - Role of the CB Project certification - Role of the CB

• Risk analysis

• Sample assessment and site auditing

• Verification of scheme documentation

• Verification of management

competence and processes

• Sign-off of project at completion

Output from Project Certification Output from Project Certification

• Independent verification of the use of legal

& sustainable timber

• Reputational Risk Reduction

• Traceability through supply chain to

completed building

• Credible claims supported by ENGOs

• Benchmark for future timber procurement

First Completed Project - Westside First Completed Project - Westside Apartments, Illford. Apartments, Illford.

Westside Apartments, Illford, EssexWestside Apartments, Illford, Essex

• Completed March 2007• Main Contractor - Hollybrook Homes• 5-Story Timber Frame Apartment Building• Client - Tower Homes• £5 million build programme• Certification assessment fees - £3000.00• Full FSC Project certification - 100% of

building materials used FSC certified (Pure or Mixed Sources).

Project certification - Waterside Project certification - Waterside Apartments, a success storyApartments, a success story

• Greenpeace believe that this Hollybrook Homes project at Ilford Wharf, the first fully FSC Certified Project in the world, is showing the rest of the construction industry that not only is FSC possible, but it can be done on time and on budget. It really is fantastic news. It is leading the way for the rest of the industry and setting the benchmark, showing the UK that FSC is both affordable and achievable.

• “Greenpeace would like to see the rest of the industry adopting similar strategies.”

• Ben Ayliffe, Greenpeace

Project Certification - benefit to the client Project Certification - benefit to the client

• Independent verification of the use of legal and

sustainable timber in construction.

• Reliable and accurate data

• Proven certification system already in use in

construction industry

• Improvement in the control and identification of

wood products on the construction site

Thank you for listeningThank you for listening