Companies in the furniture industry swarmed to Cologne’s Interzum last month to showcase their products. Certification and legality assurance were hotly debated on the floors of one of the world's largest trade fair grounds.
A full floor was dedicated to suppliers of veneer, timber trading, manufacturers and speciality products from global sources. Over 75 FSC certified companies exhibited at the event in Germany, ranging from importers and traders to manufacturers of veneers, seats, and even the paper used to manufacture panels.
Today there is a new focus in the industry media on educating companies on this sector on sustainability. In fact, the Interzum magazine held a three page article about FSC certification and its impacts.
The array of initiatives promoting FSC certification is paying off. Recognition of FSC products in the market continues to grow, as testified by most companies at the event – some even lost business when they were unable to demonstrate FSC certification.
An important topic of conversation and concern among companies relates to the new legal requirement for importing or trading timber products. Screening and management of supply chains is urgently needed for almost all EU companies importing timber and paper products.