Responsible Wood Community Grants Program 2024-25
Buy Responsible Wood-certified products
You can help protect the world’s forests! All you need to do is to choose Responsible Wood-certified products the next time you go shopping. Especially if it means that you choose forest-based materials instead of alternatives such as plastic.
This might sound strange. Choosing forest-based materials means using trees in order to make these products. How does this protect them?
Equally important, forests are renewable, and Responsible Wood-certified forests are managed in a manner that ensures that they will be there for generations to come. Harvesting trees does not have a negative impact on the forests, as they will be replanted.
Other materials such as plastics are not renewable. In fact, 4% of the world’s entire oil production is used for the sole purpose of producing plastics.
Responsible Wood-certified products come from Responsible Wood-certified, sustainably managed forests. Forests that have been verified by independent experts to ensure they are managed in line with strict international standards.
When you buy a product carrying the Responsible Wood label, you can be assured that you are not contributing to deforestation. On the contrary: you are helping stop it.
Moreover, you are also supporting forest owners who manage their forests sustainably. Forest owners who care for their forests and depend on them for their livelihoods.
What products can you buy?
There is a huge range of Responsible Wood-certified products available. Responsible Wood is endorsed by PEFC with PEFC certification carried by thousands of products globally. Look out for the Responsible Wood and / or PEFC label when purchasing products both in Australian and globally.
Household items
Let’s start with the easy options, the things we buy on a regular basis, from toilet paper to printer paper, envelopes and tissues. Going on a picnic or having a party? Paper plates, cups, napkins and straws can all be Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified. Getting your children ready for school? Look out for Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified pencils and notebooks.
Furniture
Beautiful wooden beds, coffee tables, wardrobes, bookcases, dining tables… and smaller items, such as photo frames, kitchen utensils and ornaments can all be Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified. Outside too, check for the Responsible Wood or PEFC label when buying your new garden table and chairs or a sun lounger.
DIY
Are you putting in a new floor, replacing your kitchen cabinets, building a new garden shed? All these are available in Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified wood. Even if you are not doing the work yourself, ask your builders to choose Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified timber.
Fashion
You might be surprised to hear that many of the clothes we buy today are made out of fibres that come from a forest. Check the label; if it’s made from Viscose, Modal and Lyocell, it’s from a forest. The fashion industry is still a new area for us, but keep checking the labels; soon you’ll see the Responsible Wood or PEFC logo!
Food
It’s not just wood that comes from a forest, but also food. Mushrooms, Iberico ham, berries, honey, and even beer, you can find all these Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified. However, these items are still quite specialized and only available from certain retailers – so they might not be as easy to find as Responsible Wood or PEFC-certified toilet paper!
Packaging
Don’t forget, even if the product you are buying doesn’t come from the forest, it’s packaging does! Next time you’re in the supermarket, check the boxes of your favourite cereal or tea for the Responsible Wood or PEFC label.
