The business community has a vital role to play using forest products wisely and sustainably. Responsible use of forest products implies that businesses develop procurement processes that buy products from sustainably managed forests, such as products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Governments can be expected to develop and implement policies that encourage sustainable use of forests, habitat protection and forest restoration. Civil society can be expected to play an increasingly significant role independently monitoring all parties involved, raising awareness on forests and supporting grassroots initiatives.
Perhaps most importantly to businesses, consumers are making wiser choices about the products they buy, increasingly this involves purchasing forest products that originate from sustainable sources that carry the FSC certification logo.
The world is changing and forests are at the forefront of burgeoning environmental awareness. Businesses that integrate the procurement of sustainable forest products into their supply chain now will reap the rewards. Those that wait to the last minute or ignore responsible use of forest products altogether will not do so with impunity.
© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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