In 2011, an independent panel was invited to make recommendations to the government regarding the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England and it was here that Grown in Britain was created.
The resulting report – Recommendation 18 – urged the Government, woodland owners and businesses to work together to unlock the benefits of British timber in their supply chains.
Now an independent not-for-profit organisation, Grown in Britain (GiB) is a team of industry leaders headed by CEO Dougal Driver. Their focus is the assurance of a home-grown supply chain, highlighting UK timber as the brand of choice for buyers, suppliers and the public.
In a bid to combat the deceptive use of the British flag on timber products across the UK construction sector, GiB are rolling out a campaign, starting with a newly-released infographic putting the facts in the spotlight.
Dougal commented: “As shown in our new infographic, the UK imports £7.8bn of foreign timber every year, whilst we rarely add any significant value to our home-grown sawn timber supplies, and half of our broadleaved and mixed woods are unmanaged.
“Unless we revisit our business practices and rethink the way we procure home-grown timber, we will continue to waste carbon and drag wood from across the world. A Grown in Britain licence supports active and sustainable management of our UK forests and woodlands and is the only assurance that timber products are truly home-grown.”
For more information or to enquire about licensing, visit www.growninbritain.org or call 0117 958 2189.
