FSC® & PEFC™ CERTIFIED WOOD SUPPLIER IN THE PHILIPPINES
Sustainable Wood in the Philippines
At first glance, ‘sustainable wood’ might sound like a contradiction. After all, isn’t it still about cutting down trees? Ever thought, “How can I be so sure that the wood I bought was taken from a well-trusted source?” Well, that’s where the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC® ) (FSC® License Code: FSC-C111088) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ (PEFC™) come in.
These two organizations act as third-party auditors that oversee forestry practices around the world. They ensure that logging companies make full use of each tree and that the surrounding environment remains protected and maintained to high standards. In this way, wood can be harvested responsibly. Yes, it still involves cutting trees—but when done correctly, and on a well-regulated schedule, sustainable forestry can minimize ecological harm and even support forest regeneration.
The Difference between FSC® and PEFC™
To give you some background, the FSC® and PEFC™ are both global non-governmental organizations that focus on sustainable forestry. Although they have the same goal in mind, there are still some differences between the two certifications.
FSC® follows 10 sets of principles as their basis for considering whether a forest is environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable or not. FSC® was also originally established to combat illegal logging in tropical areas
On the other hand, the PEFC™ was created to manage the proper handling of forestry management in temperate regions like Europe and North America. It’s more of a mutual recognition of a country’s scheme on how to observe sustainability rather than a standard.
Where to Get FSC® and PEFC™ Certified Wood in the Philippines —Filtra Timber
Fortunately, the Philippines is not so far behind in this movement of sustainability. A few companies now offer wood plastic composite (WPC), and stone plastic composite (SPC) as alternatives for the Filipino consumers’ desire for wood. Given that they come from recycled wood materials, it is an admirable step in the right direction!
However, there is still only one local timber trading company in the country who has FSC® and PEFC™ certification—FILTRA Timber.
FILTRA Timber is a lumber company established by Per Stangegaard in the 2000s, and since then, they’ve provided a diverse global selection of sustainable wood in the Philippines. Following the logging ban in the Philippines, consumers would need to look for acceptable substitutes. Luckily, FILTRA offers a large variety of wooden species that include premium international alternatives to our local favorites.
FSC® and PEFC™ Certified Products offered by FILTRA Timber
Given FILTRA’s wide range of products, interested clients would usually need to message them to know what certified products they have available. As of this writing, these are the FSC® and PEFC™ certified wood species that FILTRA has in stock:
- Rough Sawn Ash (FSC® 100%)
- Unedged Ash (FSC® 100%)
- Rough Sawn Beech (FSC® 100%)
- Rough Sawn Eucalyptus Grandis (FSC® 100%)
- Unedged Lime (FSC® 100%)
- Rough Sawn Oak White (FSC® 100% & 100% PEFC™)
- Rough Sawn Poplar (FSC® 100%)
- Rough Sawn Teak (FSC® 100%)
- Rough Sawn Thermo Wood (100% PEFC™)
For more information on the other wood species and products we can supply, you can check the following links: Full list of FILTRA FSC® products and Full list of FILTRA PEFC™ products.
Now that you’re more informed, consider checking if the lumber you’re buying is FSC® or PEFC™ certified so you know that it’s harvested responsibly. And if you decide to contact FILTRA Timber, you can rest assured you’re in good hands!
