A new report from the environmental group Greenpeace shows how the UK construction industry can have a positive influence on management practices in forests around the world. The report, entitled "Setting a new standard: alternatives to unsustainable plywood in the UK construction industry" is a practical guide for companies seeking a wider choice of certified wood products appropriate for construction in applications where plywood may have traditionally been used.

With NGOs and national media continuing to investigate and report questionable material choices in public sector building projects, this new report offers architects, specifiers and contractors real tick-box answers to the ‘legal and sustainable’ requirements to which they need to adhere in their projects.

Irish-made SmartPly OSB, an FSC certified structural panel which provides an alternative to plywood, has been emphasising the environmental arguments and, through the international and high profile “Time To Choose” ad campaign, asking all specifiers to review their use of plywood and highlighting the environmental credentials of SmartPly OSB.

SmartPly welcomes the new report and applauds this initiative and endorsement from Greenpeace. Geoff Rhodes, marketing and business development director for SmartPly says, “Because of its FSC certification and local manufacture, SmartPly OSB is part of the sustainable and environmental solution. The construction industry has to make a decision on the wood products it uses and what environmental impact those products have. Now with this new document, Greenpeace is adding weight to the debate as the market for sustainable wood products continues to grow. Our ‘Time To Choose’ campaign asks decision-makers to be uncompromising in their choice of wood products and the message in this report from Greenpeace resonates with our own.” 
 The report shows how to avoid unsustainable plywood and why companies must respond to this issue as a matter of urgency. It also provides a step-by-step guide to obtaining socially and environmentally responsible timber, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).rn

For a copy of the report, visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/reports. For information on SmartPly OSB, visit www.smartply.com.

About SmartPly OSBrn

SmartPly is part of Coillte Panel Products, a division of Coillte, which also includes Medite, the manufacturer of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF), based in Clonmel.rn

Both Medite and SmartPly are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, differentiating them from many competitor and substitute products, and enabling them to meet environmental standards which are becoming increasingly important to designers, specifiers, architects and clients for both public and private projects.

www.coillte.com

www.medite-europe.com

www.smartply.com