MTCC Showcases PEFC-Certified Tropical Timbers And Related Products At German Timber Day 2015 and SPOGA-Gafa 2015
Timber certification is an effective tool in helping Malaysian timber and timber-related companies create a competitive market position for their products as well as improves market access and brand image. This was confirmed through the positive feedback received from both trade visitors and large retailers during Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) participation in two major trade expos held in Germany recently.
MTCC Chief Executive Officer, Yong Teng Koon explained, “The Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) demonstrates not only that Malaysian tropical forests are managed sustainably, but that it also responds to the demand by international market for responsibly-sourced timber products.Certification will create better market conditions for Malaysia’s timber-based products such as plywood, pulp and paper, furniture and others. This ultimately will contribute to the economic growth of our country – while at the same time safeguarding the nation’s precious forest resources.”
According to MTCC, as a single market, the European Union is the largest consumer of timber in the world, and they are demanding environmentally and socially-responsible products such as certified tropical timber. As demand for sustainable timber grow, timber certification like the MTCS plays an instrumental role in enhancing the market competitiveness and acceptance of the MTCS-certified timber and timber products fulfilling the national government procurement policy for timber of a number of European countries.
“As the National Governing Body for the MTCS, MTCC is encouraged to learn that the government agencies, timber trade federations, businesses, and consumer groups from developed markets are confident that their selection of timber products carrying the PEFC label is a positive choice for the environment,” Yong added.
The MTCS is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), the world’s largest forest certification system. Todate, MTCS is recognised by national government procurement policies in Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand as well as recognised under the Malaysia Green Building Index and other Green Building Systems in Singapore, Australia, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America.
As at September 2015, Malaysia has exported a cumulative total of over 1 million cubic meters of certified tropical timber to 47 destinations all over Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South Africa, the United States (US) and Canada. Of this total, some 868,332 cubic metre or 82.93 per cent have been exported to Europe.
The German Timber Day was a bi-annual timber trade expo organized by the German Timber Trade Federation to showcase the latest developments and inventions related to the timber industry. Meanwhile, SPOGA+Gafa 2015 is Germany’s largest garden trade fair covering topics like gardening, recreation, green industry and leisure.
2015 marks the 7th time MTCC has participated in the German Timber Day exhibition to showcase and highlight the availability of Malaysian certified timber and timber-related products for Germany and the European market. Meanwhile, this was MTCC’s fifth involvement in the annual SPOGA+Gafa 2015 exhibition.