§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that paper and timber products purchased by his Department come from a sustainable source. [110147]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Ministry's Greening Operations Strategy, which was updated and re-published in June 1999, has among its key aims to conserve resources and minimise waste by reducing the use of materials from non-renewable resources and to ensure that any products derived from nature, such as paper and timber, are derived from sustainable resources and comply with EU and international trading agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
22WTo help meet these aims the Strategy includes objectives to use recycled paper comprising genuine post-consumer waste and to ensure that any virgin pulp used in its manufacture comes from sustainably managed woodlands. It also, for example, requires the introduction of procedures to ensure as far as possible that timber and timber products come from sustainable resources by requiring documented proof or, if available, independent valuation under an internationally recognised certification or ecolabelling scheme.
As part of continuing efforts to raise awareness and promote best practice across Government the Ministry is represented on inter-departmental groups concerned with the procurement of timber and paper and, in addition, is a member of The Sustainable Office Forum which is a cross-industry group interested in improving ogranisations' environmental performance through consideration of issues in forestry papermaking, recycling and printing.