"It is very positive that the government now makes its point clear and requires sustainable timber in their procurements. PEFC Denmark has worked for that to happen for a number of years. At long last, the forests and companies that have been certified for a long time get support for their forward-thinking company policy", says Chairman of PEFC Denmark, Niels Peter Dalsgaard Jensen.
"In PEFC Denmark this announcement comes at a time when we have a lot of marketing initiatives in the pipeline, so we hope that more can now see even greater potential in becoming certified", the PEFC Chairman continues.
Until now there has been a voluntary procurement policy in Denmark, currently resulting in about 25% of the state procurement being documented sustainable timber. In future, the state requires that all wood-based products derive from documented sustainable timber.
The Danish Minister of the Environment, Ida Auken from the Socialist People's Party, expects that the increased focus on sustainable procurement from the state will get more companies to switch to sustainable timber procurement and timber production.
"The voluntary scheme was a nice guide, but now the state takes the lead and brings more speed to the process to ensure procurement of sustainable timber. It will get more companies to start thinking about having sustainable products and goods on the shelves, because the state is a major customer", says Minister of the Environment, Ida Auken.
PEFC Denmark agrees to the Ministers statement, as there has been a feeling that many companies have been reluctant to get certified because there has not been sufficient demand for certified products.
"We expect the state's new strategy will give the final push, so that the reluctant forests and companies will be certified," says Niels Peter Dalsgaard Jensen, who is looking forward to an increasing proportion of PEFC - certified forests and companies in Denmark, as a result of the new policy. With almost half of all of Danish forests already PEFC certified, it is hoped that this policy will provide particular encouragement to small forest owners to seek certification.
The new binding provision is mandatory for central government institutions only, whereas the provision is voluntary for regions and municipalities. The new Danish instrument aimed at ensuring that procured timber products are sustainably produced, is thus in line with other EU countries like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium that have similar provisions and for central government institutions.
