26 February 2019
Fair&Precious: The Collective Label for Legal and Eco-certified African Timber
photo by ATIBT/ Fair&Precious
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To be a member of Fair&Precious, concession holders must, at the very least, be FSC or PEFC certified.

The Fair&Precious community relies on dialogue and mutual respect while working in the field, to ensure that human development is carried out in harmony with the forest.

Aware that hyper consumption must gradually be replaced by more qualitative and participatory approaches, a growing number of forest concession holders are looking at more sustainable ways of managing tropical forests. This responsible approach has resulted in the creation of the Fair&Precious collective brand, which aims to encourage European consumers to purchase products that use ecological and responsibly-sourced materials.

Fair&Precious, the collective label for legal and eco-certified African timber, is an international initiative in line with the UN’s sustainable development agenda.

To be a member of Fair&Precious, concession holders must, at the very least, be FSC or PEFC certified. These labels are controlled by certification bodies such as Bureau Veritas and are there to guarantee the application of strict rules to ensure the traceability of material from the forest to the finished product. In addition, each member must follow 10 very clear commitments*, which are in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 10 commitments constitute the Fair&Precious manifesto.

Fair&Precious concession holders devote significant budgets to ensuring that these commitments are respected. In this way, they can create a virtuous dynamic, so that good practices take precedence above all else. The Fair&Precious community relies on dialogue and mutual respect while working in the field on a daily basis, to ensure that human development is carried out in harmony with the forest.

By creating the Fair&Precious label, ATIBT (International Tropical Timber Technical Association) and its members want to show that they are fully committed to the CSR approach that integrates major environment criteria, respect for local populations and communities, ecosystem conservation and protection of species.

European consumers know very little about the role of these concession holders, to whom they attribute the disappearance of forests when in fact they are their best protector. It is time for consumers to know that sustainable solutions exist in the world of tropical wood management.

The Fair&Precious brand makes up for the lack of awareness about its certified members who each offer models that respect people and the planet, while promoting an exceptional material.

 

*Fair&Precious’ 10 commitments through its manifesto

1. Manage and protect forests to combat climate change

2. Preserve forest resources by harvesting less than naturally grows

3. Develop knowledge on biodiversity to facilitate the restocking of species

4. Ensure the maintenance of the wildlife’s living space

5. Implement programmes to combat environmental crime against fauna and flora

6. Contribute to the well-being of populations by facilitating their access to education, health care and housing

7. Stimulate the economies of producing countries by enhancing the value of forests and promoting local wood processing

8. Set up training courses in forestry and woodworking professions

9. Provide technical knowledge on the diversity of tropical species and their uses

10. Promote the responsible purchase of an exceptional material

 

This article was written by Benoit Jobbé-Duval, Director General, ATIBT. His photo is courtesy of ©FAO/Roberto Cenciarelli

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