Environment & Sustainability

Our Sustainability Promise

Hawthorn Timber fully understands that timber is one of the earth’s most important resources which needs to be sustainably managed and protected.

We aim to help our customers meet their environmental commitments by providing a wide range of products that meet the highest environmental standards, whilst maintaining and promoting legal and sustainable managed forests.

Under the United Kingdom Timber Regulations, which came into force January 2021, it is against the law to place illegally-harvested timber and timber products onto the EU market.

As an ‘Operator’ and first placer of timber or derived products on the EU market, we work with a Due Diligence System (DDS) to minimise the risk of placing illegal timber on the market.

As part of our DDS, we always consider three fundamental elements: information, risk assessment and risk mitigation.

As an operator, we confirm that a DDS is in place and will be audited regularly by a Monitoring Organisation (MO) recognised by the European Commission and controlled by national authorities.

As a timber ‘trader’, it is our obligation to keep records of whom we buy and sell to.

Hawthorn Timber Ltd can confirm and provide access to the following information at all times:

  • Details of products and species, trade name / scientific name
  • Details of country and region of harvest
  • Details of quantities of volume (in m3) bought from each supplier
  • Details of supplier’s names and addresses

Our Environmental Commitment

The majority of softwood timber we import is from Europe, where sustainability is a major factor in the management of European forests.

As the world’s most environmentally-friendly building material, we believe it is important for us to adopt a responsible purchasing attitude to timber.

Since November 2004, we have held ‘FSC Chain of Custody’ certification, which promotes the support for the responsible management of the world’s forests. We have also held ‘PEFC Chain of Custody’ certification since 2007.

We are also fully committed to the efficient use of energy and ensure we make every reasonable effort to minimise the environmental impact of our activities by recycling waste from all our operational sites.

Our Timber Certification

We are proud to have achieved Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Chain of Custody certification – and many of our products are available as FSC® Certified. Look for our FSC®-certified products.

We are also PEFC® Chain of Custody Certified to supply wood-based products originating in sustainably managed forests, under the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme.

Click now to see and download our certificates.