Timber Purchasing Policy

Bradfords recognises a responsibility to the environment, our customers, suppliers, and staff to base its commercial activities on ensuring timber is procured from well-managed sustainable forests.

Legality

Bradfords will not be directly or indirectly involved in the following activities:  a) Illegal logging or the trade in illegal wood or forest products. b) Violation of traditional and human rights in forestry operations. c) Destruction of high conservation values in forestry operations. d) Significant conversion of forests to plantations or non-forest use. e) Introduction of genetically modified organisms in forestry operations. f) Violation of any of the ILO Core Conventions, as defined in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998.

Endangered Species

Bradfords will not source any timber species prohibited under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Supplier Monitoring

Bradfords will regularly obtain from suppliers
a) information relating to their environmental practices b) clearest practicable information regarding the sources of raw material used in the manufacture of wood products. The information received will form part of purchasing decisions and will be made available on request to interested parties.

Management Structure

Bradfords has appointed a Director 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. Bradfords 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.

Continuous Improvement

Bradfords will define its own programmes and establish its own objectives and targets, to achieve continuous improvement in environmental performance in accordance with this policy.

Avoid Misleading Claims

Bradfords will avoid misleading and unsubstantiated environmental claims in relation to wood product supplies.

Timber Certification

Bradfords recognises that the independent certification of forests and the process chain is the most useful tool in providing assurances that the timber comes from legal and well-managed forests and operates a fully certified and accredited Timber Chain of Custody system which is audited annually. Bradfords will only accept or use labels or certificates which include environmental or sustainability claims if these are supported by publicly available standards, drawn up in a fully participatory transparent and objective manner and backed by independent inspection.

This policy covers a broad range of timber products including solid wood products, flooring, plywood, pulp and paper.

Our suppliers carry out Due Diligence Systems to assess the risk of timber/ timber products being from an illegal source. We maintain documentation of proof of origin on all our Timber/Timber products or have access to obtain this on demand. Bradfords Group operate a chain of Custody system. 

Chemical-free mix added to sapling to deter animals and bark beetles from attacking it at a Sodra Forest in Scandanavia