European oak flooring: how to be sure it’s the real thing?
How can a leading British oak flooring company be sure it’s getting the real thing – legally- acquired and responsibly-sourced - when it’s coming from the other side of the world?
Product traceability and supply chain transparency is the answer.
Five years ago, Brooks Bros (UK) Ltd wanted to provide assurance to its customers that the oak harvested from certified forests in Europe and shipped to China to be turned into flooring products, was not being contaminated in any way. In the process, they wanted to clearly communicate that their market-leading actions met rigid Responsible Purchasing Policy standards.
The award-winning British flooring company reached out to Double Helix Tracking Technologies in Singapore in 2015 to see how it could help provide the verification needed.
A team was formed, consisting of bilingual staff based in Beijing, China, supported by team members in Singapore, to ensure effective communication with both the Chinese supplier and to the head office of Brooks Bros in Maldon, England.
DoubleHelix implemented a desk-based and on-site risk assessment in China to map out the supply chain and identify any risks. To further mitigate against higher risk sources entering the supply chain, the tracking experts recommended a customised verification process of document checks for every batch of oak logs delivered to the factory.
Then the science at the heart of DoubleHelix’s work came into play. An isotope testing process was applied on a sample basis to oak components, providing independent, scientific evidence and assurance of its Western European origin.
Every step of risk assessment, mitigation and supplier engagement was carefully documented by DoubleHelix, so that verifiable evidence was always available, integrated into the Brooks Bros’ existing Due Diligence System.
This all helped Brooks Bros maintain its credibility and allegiance to its Responsible Purchasing Policy, which always involves procuring timber and timber-products from legal and well-managed forests, that are certified according to international standards or are from post-consumer recycled materials.
This is also in line with the UK Government’s Central Point of Expertise in Timber (CPET) approved schemes, with products certified to the standards of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
It also shows that the cornerstone of Brooks Bros commitment is in adherence to the Timber Trade Federation’s (TTF) Environmental Code of Practice by pursuing a Responsible Sourcing Programme to promote the use and marketing of legal and environmentally responsible forest products.
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About Brooks Bros
From timber porters on the River Thames, the company’s reputation for quality and service, formed in the South East of England, has spread and today Brooks Bros is one of the UK’s leading timber suppliers. Throughout its more than fifty years of development, Brooks Bros has remained fiercely independent, combining family values with single-minded (but broad based) ambition to meet the demands of customers both large and small across the full spectrum of traditional and new timber products. The company consistently wins awards for its work, including for three years in a row, the TTJ Hardwood Trader of the Year Award in 2017, 2018 & 2019.
About Double Helix Tracking Technologies
This is a company which has a love affair with forests and the amazing materials that come from forests. DoubleHelix understands that replacing environmentally damaging materials with wood-based products is key to meeting Sustainable Development Goals, so long as they come from legal, responsibly managed forests. Established in 2008 and headquartered in Singapore, DoubleHelix works with suppliers, buyers and retailers in over 20 countries worldwide, across the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. Other partners include governments, foundations, scientific centres of excellence and major international brands.
About Focus on Forests
This is an online campaign which highlights the need to protect the world's forests, to aim for zero deforestation, to beat illegal logging, to reduce forest fires and to promote all the benefits of forests to create livelihoods for local communities. Ken Hickson started Focus on Forests to also draw attention to the value of effective Forest Management and Responsible Sourcing, promoting sustainable supply chains for wood, pulp, paper, rubber and other materials, in line with the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Additionally, Focus on Forests encourages tree planting on a global scale, which can provide the lifeblood of the planet, in support of the science-based initiative by Dr Thomas Crowther (ETH Zurich) to plant 1.2 trillion trees and to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.