Rona Inc., who operates large home improvement stores in Canada, has decided to purchase certified lumber only.

The announcement by Rona is already controversial. There are three main certification systems in Canada, but Rona is choosing to only favour FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification because the company believes it is the most vigorous on two critical criteria: first nations involvement in forestry and conservation of biodiversity.

Rona's new buying policy requires:

• 100% of the company's lumber must come from eco-certified sources by the end of 2010.
• Panel products will have to be eco-certified by the end of 2009.
• 25% of lumber sold at Rona must bear the Forest Stewardship Council certification logo by 2012.
• All suppliers have a chain-of-custody procedure in place by the end of 2011 that traces the wood products back to the forests where they came from.

The Rona store network generates annual sales of $6.3 billion a year. Ten per cent of that - $630 million - is in lumber purchases, giving the company significant purchase power in the forest sector.

Forest companies with B.C. operations that Rona buys from include West Fraser Timber, Interfor, and Tembec. Tembec has FSC certification in its eastern B.C. operations while West Fraser operates under another certification system.

Source:
Rona vows to buy only eco-certified lumber - Company wants to 'do the right thing,' official says in announcing standards (The Vancouver Sun)