3. 3. 7. Minimum share of wood from sustainable forestry

As forests have numerous functions, wood harvesting and other types of use may lead to conflicts between different stakeholders.

Forests have to be managed sustainably in order to ensure that their functions (e.g. protection against avalanches and topsoil erosion, space for human recreation) can be preserved in the long run.

Sustainable forest management means that forest roads, machines, logging, reforestation and use of pesticides must be as ecologically sensible as possible. Wood should always come from safe sources, which means:

• no illegal timber harvesting;
• no wood from high conservation value forests such as the natural forests of Siberia or European Russia;
• no wood from genetically modified trees.

 

In a number of countries, the obligation to pursue sustainable forest management practices has been laid down by law (e.g. in Austria, Germany and Switzerland).

At least 50% of the wood or 50% of the primary raw materials for wood-based materials must come from sustainable forestry.

 

Proof:

• Manufacturer’s declaration and provision of one of the following certificates (CoC…chain of custody):
  • FSC pure - CoC
  • FSC-mixed (70-100 %) - CoC
  • FSC mixed credit (70 – 100 %) - CoC
  • FSC recycled (70 – 100 %) - CoC
  • FSC recycled credit (70 – 100 %) - CoC
  • PEFC - CoC

• Naturland certificate
• Holz von Hier certificate
• other equivalent certificates

 

• In the case of direct sourcing from a sawmill, alternatively a certificate of origin can be provided for growth areas from Austria, Germany or Switzerland or a country in which sustainability criteria in accordance with §1 of the Austrian Forestry Law have been laid down by law.  

 

• Proven provenance from waste wood, industrial wood such as sawmill residue, splinters, slabs and off-cuts or waste paper.

 

All products awarded one of the following eco labels meet these criteria:

• natureplus quality label

• Österreichisches Umweltzeichen (Austrian eco label)

 

Alternatively, the corresponding baubook declaration may serve as evidence (www.baubook.info/oea).