The Flooring Magazine's Illegal Logging Campaign

B&Q join forces with timber merchant Cikel to make a stand against illegal logging in the flooring industry.

B&Q has set the precedent by forging direct relations with with ethical timber manufacturer Cikel.

The two have pledged to do their utmost to clean up the reputation of the Brazilian timber market. They hope their efforts will encourage others to follow suit.

Cikel, whose lumber mills are scattered throughout the Amazon rainforest, are supplying B&Q with Forestry Stewardship Commission (FSA)-assured timber.

The FSA has thrown its support behind the partnership. Charles Thwaites, executive director, said: “B&Q has been a valued supporter of FSC for many years, both through the promotion of FSC-certified timber products within its stores and for the financial contributions they have made to us as a charity. Achieving the chain-of-custody certificate, which requires much hard work and dedication from a large number of staff, is yet more proof of the company’s commitment to sourcing timber from responsibly managed forests. I congratulate all those involved.”

Unfortunately, this is a rather isolated case of two companies working together to create a responsible and transparent supply chain that is working towards stemming illegal logging. Illegal and ‘bad practice’ logging are rife in the rainforest; the practice damages not just the environment, but also the local communities in affected areas. In response, Cikel sources exotic rainforest timber using techniques designed to minimise impact on the rainforest and it's environment.

For its work, the company has been issued Forest Certification from the FSC, which guarantees that key agreed principles and rules of responsible timber harvesting are adhered to.

Cikel also ensures that its projects are not to the detriment of local communities and has set up a number of initiatives to benefit them, particularly in the area of education. Casa Familiar Rural (Rural Familiar House) from the Quilombola community in Baião provides courses on Familiar Agriculture.

Cikel also develops projects with the municipal schools of Goainésia, Portel, Ananindeua cities at Pará state and Itinga do Maranhão at Maranhão state. These focus on environmental education for teenagers, where they learn the meaning of Lower Impact Forest Management. They also receive tuition on environment preservation and are taught to adopt correct environmental practices.

However, Cikel is in the minority when it comes to responsible logging in Brazil. This is why the partnership with B&Q is so important. It is hoped that the transparent and responsibly sourced supply chain between Cikel and B&Q will act as an example to other Brazilian companies. They will see that abandoning previous bad practice and developing environmentally and community-friendly practices will not only be ecologically sound, it may even increase the productivity of their businesses through partnerships with successful companies from overseas. Cikel urges companies from the rest of the world to re-enforce this message and refuse to source supplies from companies insensitive to the impact logging has on the rainforest and its communities. This message needs to get across to loggers who are involved in bad or illegal practices sooner rather than later, in order to preserve the Brazilian rainforest and maintain a good standard of life for its communities.

A spokesperson from B&Q shared this sentiment: “[It was] more vital than ever to set a good example to other businesses. The UK has recently been found to be the world’s second largest importer of illegal timber. We need to demonstrate that you can sell good quality products sourced from responsibly managed supply chains.

"B&Q are incredibly proud to have formed this partnership with Cikel. It means that we can supply our customers with excellent tropical flooring sourced from a company who has responsibly sourced the timber from which it is made.” Cikel, with B&Q, are leading the way. The Brazilian company employs and educates 2,500 people within the local community where they work, which indirectly benefits around 9,000 people and families. Their educational programmes, which help the community understand and implement responsible agriculture, teach the workforce valuable skills to enable them to be more aware of their living environment. It is hoped that other organisations, both at source and those involved in distribution will follow suit and take up the batton of responsibility, to clear up a damaging practice.