The European Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition aims to boost levels of European sustainably sourced tropical timber awareness, specification and use through a programme of communication, education, best practice and knowledge sharing.
It has close working links with other bodies operating in the field and directly supports development of timber sector responsible procurement plans. In addition, it supports both individual companies and public authorities in setting up Action Plans to increase their purchases of sustainable sourced tropical timber.
The STTC’s wide range of partners, participants and supporters include national and local governments, importers, merchants and other timber businesses across Europe. It is also backed by end users and big name home improvement retailers, industry associations, NGOs, the two main certification schemes and other not for profit organisations.
One of the chief architects of the concept, and a lead supporter is Dutch government-backed IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative.
The Coalition
Organizations involved in the STTC are grouped in various categories according to organisation type and level of involvement as Partners, Participants and Supporters (click for the full list).
The STTC has made match-funding available for projects tackling barriers to mainstreaming sustainably sourced tropical timber. To date activities that have received support include LCA-studies, initiatives to promote lesser used tropical timber species, networking events and trade fair participation. Click here for the full list of STTC supported projects.
This market support programme should further accelerate progress towards the STTC’s initial strategic target, to increase European sustainably sourced tropical timber sales 50% above 2013 levels by 2020.
