Certification

Quality and the environment are important issues for any business. We are working towards, or have already achieved, some important industry certification that show how much we value these issues.

Forest management

We are proud to have achieved certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The FSC is an independent, non-government, not-for-profit organisation that was established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. FSC certification is a tool that supports the highest environmental and social standards in paper and print, and ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of the forests.

FSC certified forests are managed with consideration for people, wildlife and the environment:

• The trees harvested are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally
• Parts of the forests are preserved entirely to protect rare animals and plants
• The rights of indigenous people to use the forests are safeguarded and sacred sites are exempt from felling

The FSC doesn't just support sustainable resources – it also ensures that local workers are used to run the forests and provided with training, safety equipment and a good salary. In many cases, the forest owners help and support the wider community, for example, through the development of schools.

The wood is tracked from the forest to the store so it can be clearly identified as FSC certified.

FSC is endorsed by major environmental charities, including WWF, Greenpeace and the Woodland Trust.

Quality and the environment

We are working towards the quality accreditation ISO:9001 and the environmental accreditation ISO: 14001 and we plan to achieve these in 2011.