Homeowners continue to seek out sustainable products

Sustainability remains a key consideration for homeowners as they continue to look towards responsible product choices when undertaking a home renovation.

Furniture, appliances, fixtures and fittings are all under the microscope as their impact on the environment is scrutinised.

When it comes to wood products, timber offers a number of environmental benefits. Timber uses relatively little energy in its production and is the only natural and fully renewable building product available today. At the end of its life, timber can be easily turned into a new wood product, avoiding wastage. Alternatively, it can be disposed of in its existing form to continue its carbon storage cycle.

One of the many attractions of timber products is that they are carbon positive, storing carbon which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. This means that sustainably managed forest harvesting programs combined with increasing use of wood products in our daily lives contribute positively to climate change.

Proving its sustainability credentials, Boral Timber has achieved Chain of Custody certification for its full product range. This means that Boral Timber can prove its wood products are sourced from certified and legal sources and that homeowners buying these products are supporting sustainably managed timber harvesting and processing. In turn, they are also securing the long-term future of Australia's forestry and wood product resources and making a positive impact on the environment.

Boral Timber's Chain of Custody certification is linked to the Australian Forestry Certification Scheme (AFCS) - the only scheme in Australia with an Australian Standard (AS4708-2007). More than 95% of certified forestry in Australia is certified by the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS). The AFCS is aligned with an international body called PEFC which is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, promoting sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC is also the largest global forestry certification scheme.

"Boral Timber's certification provides peace of mind to those buying Boral Timber products that they come from certified, non-controversial and sustainable resources," said Steve Dadd, General Manager, East Coast Hardwoods, a division of Boral Timber.

"As Australians become increasingly aware of the impact of climate change and the abuse of precious stocks around the world, it's becoming ever more crucial to have standards in place to protect our natural resources," explained Kayt Watts, CEO of Australian Forestry Standard Limited.

"Now that Boral Timber has achieved Chain of Custody certification, the company can substantiate its commitment to supporting legal and sustainable forestry practices."

To learn more about certification, visit www.forestrystandard.org.au. To read more about the environmental benefits of wood products, visit www.naturallybetter.com.au.

Enquiries: Call 1800 818 317 or visit www.boraltimberflooring.com.au