Environmental Information

We source only the best quality timber available and make every effort to ensure it originates from environmentally-managed woodlands where sustainability is a prime concern.

It is our purchasing policy to buy certified timber from companies who have a proven track record in understanding environmental responsibilities.

Environmental Policy

Duffield Timber has vested interest in the work that ensures the health and sustainability of the world’s forest.

To put it simply, without trees we would have no business. To this end, we wholly endorse the work of the internationally-recognised, third-party certification programmes for forestry (FSC ®, (FSC-Coo5493), PEFC™, SFI, CSA and so on). FSC® and PEFC™ certified timber is available on request.

We are certified suppliers for both FSC® and PEFC™ and look favourably on any vendors that are also certified and have a well-founded and responsible environmental policy. The company has a minimum environmental consideration for all purchases and vendors are interviewed to ensure that our standards are met.

We frequently visit our suppliers to perform checks relating to traceability, sustainability and environmental and ethical responsibility.

Duffield Timber Minimum Standard

• All wood and wood-based products have to be legally harvested.
• Wood has to be harvested without violation of traditional and civil rights.
• Sourcing from areas where high conservation values are threatening by management activities will be avoided.
• Only wood from forest NOT being converted to plantation or non-forest use is acceptable.
• Wood from genetically-modified trees will not be accepted.
• Species listed in Appendices II of CITIES are not acceptable. Unless subject to CITIES approval.
• If for any reason a source is considered controversial then we will not trade with that source.

Our aim is to minimise the risk of inadvertently purchasing from any doubtful source.

Duffield Timber undertakes to try to minimise any environmental impact from the company’s activities at our site in Ripon. We will regularly review energy usage to ensure the efficiency and we will consider all products and chemicals to minimise any potential risk to the environment.

Duffield Timber employs two senior purchasing directors, both attend seminars and trade association meetings to keep informed of all new environmental issues. they regularly visit suppliers at source including Europe and North America to inspect stock; they see new processing techniques and also discuss environmental issues. We endeavour to keep all staff and customers informed of any developments concerning policy on sustainable supply.

Energy Policy

Declaration of commitment

As part of its environmental strategy, Duffield Timber is committed to responsible energy management and practises energy efficiency throughout all its premises, plant and equipment, wherever it is cost-effective to do so.

Policy

The policy is to control energy consumption in order:

• To avoid unnecessary expenditure
• To improve cost- effectiveness, productivity and working conditions
• To protect the environment
• To prolong the useful life of fossil fuels

Objectives

• To buy fuels at the most economic cost
• To burn and use them as efficiently as is practicable
• To reduce the amount of pollution, particularly CO2 and SO2 emissions, caused by energy consumption.
• To reduce, wherever possible, dependence on fossil fuels through the use of passive conservation measures by enhancing use of daylight and natural ventilation.

Immediate aims

In the short term the aims are:

• To invest in a rolling programme of energy saving measures which will maximise returns on investment in order to generate funds which can be re-invested, at least in part, in further energy management activities, and
• To ensure new building designs have thermal insulation values at least 10% better than the building regulation minimum.
• To safeguard these gains by establishing and maintaining a management information system designed to ensure that information is delivered to those who need it, to support their managerial decision making.

Target

To achieve a 5% energy saving each year for the next 3 years, based on corrected temperature data and constant building stock, by good housekeeping.