Medite Europe uses only sustainable supplies of softwoods and wood residues or sawmill co-products derived from managed forests. These now include approximately 80 per cent sawmill co-products/wood residues from the sawmilling sector and 20 percent small diameter pulp wood from forests managed by Coillte and privately owned forests.
SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
In 1999 Coillte formally signed up to the concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) that has been adopted by many states as a principle by which European countries will manage their forests in the future.
The key principle of SFM established by the Helsinki Process (1993) sets down a definition for Sustainable Forest Management as follows: "The stewardship and use of forests in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological and social functions, at local, national and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems."
FSC
In Ireland the certification of forests to the FSC standard has progressed rapidly. First audited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 2000, Coillte has recently received its new FSC Certificate which is valid for the period through to May 23rd May 2011. Coillte's forests have independently inspected and evaluated according to environmental, social and economic principles, and criteria agreed by the Forest Stewardship Council. Coillte is certified by the Soil Association and their Certification Number is SGS-FM/COC-0706. The Forest Service in Northern Ireland is also certified by SGS and their Certification Number is SGS-FM/COC-0455.
Private woodland owners have risen to the challenge of achieving FSC certification. In 2005 a Tipperary based forest management company joined the INDFOR group certification scheme and provides Chain of custody for private growers managed by Tipperary Forestry Services. Their certification number is SA-FM/COC-1403.
