The 10 Big Questions For Corporate Forest Product Purchasing
Corporate procurement managers are increasingly looking for ways to ensure that wood and paper-based products are environmentally and socially sound. The WRI/WBCSD procurement guide being released today is a toolbox to help them.
There are several reasons for the shift in procurement practices, including protection of sensitive ecosystems and forests [2], increasing demand from consumers for sustainable products, reduced costs, and competitive brand positioning. But until recently, finding concise and credible advice on sustainable procurement issues has been a maze for many corporate managers.
That maze becomes a lot simpler today, with the release of the Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-Based Products [4], a joint report from WRI [5] and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development [6] (WBCSD). The report is an overview of sustainable procurement for this sector, together with a virtual rolodex [3] of 23 purchasing resources and tools, all in one location.
10 Things You Should Know
What are the key issues around sustainable procurement of wood and paper-based products? The Procurement Guide provides a comprehensive overview, and a directory of resources for managers to develop their own purchasing policies.
- Origin [8]: Where do the products come from?
- Information accuracy [9]: Is information about the products credible?
- Legality [10]: Have the products been legally produced?
- Sustainability [11]: Have forests been sustainably managed?
- Special places [12]: Have special places, including sensitive ecosystems, been protected?
- Climate change [13]: Have climate issues been addressed?
- Environmental protection [14]: Have appropriate environmental controls been applied?
- Recycled fiber [15]: Has recycled fiber been used appropriately?
- Other resources [16]: Have other resources been used appropriately?
- Local communities and indigenous peoples [17]: Have the needs of local communities or indigenous peoples been addressed?