On Saturday 21 March, we marked the International Day of Forests. Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, the day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. In 2026, the UN established ‘forests and economies’ as the annual theme, recognising the essential role…
Join us at Sydney Build Expo 2026 on 29-30 April, a free event that will bring together 700+ exhibitors, 750+ speakers and 16 CPD-accredited conference stages. Showcasing Australia’s latest projects, technologies and solutions from across the entire construction and design ecosystem, including dedicated Government and Architecture hubs, the Sydney Build…
Students at Ryde Secondary College in Sydney recently explored the science, values and career pathways behind sustainable forest management during a visit from Matt de Jongh of Responsible Wood and Beth Welden from ForestLearning. The session examined how environmental processes and interconnections – from climate, soil and water systems to…
Last week, Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries joined Timber Queensland’s webinar Sustainability by Design: The Impact of Certified Timber in the Built Environment, speaking to an audience of more than 300 built environment professionals about the role they play in ensuring timber used in construction is responsibly sourced. Certification underpins…
In a world increasingly conscious of environmental impact, the materials we choose matter more than ever to consumers and for meeting performance requirements under frameworks such as NatHERS, Green Star and other sustainability benchmarks. As expectations rise around energy efficiency, carbon outcomes and responsible sourcing, material selection plays a growing…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
