Making Traceability Sustainable

Dr Bill Miller

Technical Director

or

Trust through Transparency

Timber won’t have a future if this keeps happening!

Certificates and Beyond …

• Scott Poynton (of TFT) is right … we have to move Beyond Certification

• We support his proposed Values, Transparency, Transformation and Verification approach … but that’s going to be a huge step for some

• Our part in the process is assessment of certificates on behalf of buyers (importers)

• Buyers are motivated largely by brand issues … but some really do have noble long-term goals

We work with buyers and thus influence their suppliers

Why Traceability?

• Many suitable low-cost technologies now exist

• They are the way to get back to the stump … and beyond

• But it’s only ever going to be part of the picture

• It could help to demonstrate Transparency & Validation

Traceability certainly doesn’t guarantee sustainability

Traceability works best when:

Demand-chain pressure is massive - so that it is felt by all tiers in the supply chain

The supply chain is simple - less scope for misunderstandings and dilution of commercial leverage

There are no big primary processors involved e.g. pulp and paper/particle board manufacturers

The supply chain is dominated by the requirements of a majormarket-facing buyer

Who bears the cost?

• Presently, countries that want to export wood need to bear the cost. They have to convince a skeptical market

• Once transparently traced wood starts to enter the marketplace it is differentiated and has additional value

• In future this will be demand-chain driven, just like organic food

Who bears the cost?

Thanks!