Last week, the Responsible Wood Board met for its first strategic planning session of 2026 in Brisbane. During the two-day congregation, Board Chair Dr Tony Bartlett recognised former Board Chair Dr Hans Drielsma AM with the inaugural Responsible Wood Life Membership. The award acknowledged his tireless contribution to the organisation (spanning more than 20 years), a distinguished career in the…
The review of the AS/NZS 4708 Sustainable Forest Management Standard is underway, with the Standards Reference Committee recently convening for its launch meeting. Held across two days both online and at Responsible Wood’s Brisbane headquarters, the meeting brought together 19 representatives from forest management, wood processing, the scientific community, environmental representatives, worker representatives and government from across Australia and New…
In late 2025 a report was released by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests under freedom of information for verification of origin testing under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act. This report identified some significant discrepancies in some supply chains, and discrepancies for some products where claims of sustainable origin had been made. Responsible Wood, in conjunction with PEFC…
Students from St Edmund’s College Canberra recently examined sustainability beyond the textbook, with a presentation from Responsible Wood Sustainability Manager Matt de Jongh. The session explored how Australia’s managed forests supply renewable materials while supporting biodiversity and long-term forest health, covering forest management, certification and the use of timber in construction. “We’re helping students understand how resource choices influence…
Responsible Wood is aware of claims questioning the integrity of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) forest certification scheme in relation to an Australian retailer’s timber supply arrangements. Claims that PEFC-endorsed certification “allows illegal logging”, is “dodgy”, or harms endangered species are incorrect and misrepresent how forest certification operates in Australia. The foundation of PEFC certification is…