Travis Perkins, BSW Timber and Kingfisher are among several British businesses to sign up to WWF-UK’s new forest campaign.

As part of the campaign, the companies have committed to responsible forest trade to help end deforestation around the world with a shift to 100% sustainable timber and wood products by 2020. WWF is aiming to close the legal loopholes in the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), which mean less than 50% of the value of timber products coming into Europe are confirmed as coming from legal sources. Everyday objects such as chairs, books and musical instruments are currently not included in the legislation.

The companies that signed up at the campaign’s start, with a pledge to ensure all their wood is legally and sustainably sourced by 2020, are as follows:

  • Argos
  • Boots UK Ltd
  • British Sky Broadcasting
  • BSW Timber
  • Canal & River Trust
  • Carillion
  • Homebase
  • Lend Lease
  • Kimberly Clark
  • Kingfisher Plc (B&Q, Screwfix)
  • M&S
  • Pearson
  • Penguin Random House
  • Polestar UK Print Ltd and Polestar Bicester Ltd
  • Pureprint Group
  • Redrow Homes Ltd
  • Steinbeis
  • Tesco Stores Ltd
  • Travis Perkins
  • Wm. Morrison Supermarkets.

Julia Young, manager at WWF Global Forest and Trade Network UK, said: “We all use products from the forests daily in our homes and at work, from the chairs we sit on to the books we read, and for businesses it’s essential to have a sustainable supply of materials, for now and tomorrow. The businesses signing up know this and are taking action to ensure a future for our forests. It’s time for the government to make good on its promises to do the same.”