Klas Bengtsson, CEO of SSC Forestry. He has been a driving force to develop a FSC / Fair Trade-certified timber from Curacautin, Chile.

Klas Bengtsson, SSC Forestry

It is not enough that a wood floor is environmentally certified.  Now it's time to move on and certify the entire business model. It says Klas Bengtsson, Managing Director of SSC Forestry. He has been a driving force to develop a FSC / Fair Trade-certified wood flooring in Chile. Faitradevirket presented during one of the 1500 events in Almedalsveckan 2011.

- 'Fair Trade' is otherwise perhaps better known for nice bananas and coffee, said Emma Rung, Acting Secretary General of the Organization. What attracted us to this partnership is that so many people in the world depend on forests - while the conditions for the poor smallholder is very bad.  Corruption and lack of functioning democratic institutions in the way. Fairtrade can give small farmers access to trade.

- The FSC has so far been mainly applied to the larger companies and small farmers have struggled to establish themselves. With a dual certification, we can also get the smaller customers, said Lina Bergström, Director of the Swedish FSC.

Per-Olof Sjöö, president of GS, emphasized the consumer perspective. When consumers can shop socially acceptable products, they contribute to something good.

- Poor, smallholder farmers lack confidence that they will have their products sold, therefore they do not invest in forestry. Furthermore, they may often not more than a fraction of the log real value. The situation must be changed! said Per-Olof Sjöö.

Wood flooring manufacturer Kährs made the first order on the wood from Chile and will start selling FSC/Fairtrade wood flooring in its world collection, in the spring of 2012. The company
sees an encouraging trend of corporate responsibility globally and Kährs representatives are very hopeful for the future.

Text: Sandra Anderson Thun sandra@skogen.se


Klas Bengtsson, SSC Forestry, A Driving Force to Develop FSC/Fairtrade Timber from Chile