position_paper_-_mat.. - Engineered Wood Products Association of ...

All Australian producers of plywood and LVL can however source sustainably managed and legallog, which has been certified under the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) scheme. However,this scheme is not recognised by the GBC. This delivers a monopoly to that one manufacturerwho is fortunate to have access to FSC certified log, while the remaining 7 have no opportunityto comply with the Mat-8 specification.This is obviously detrimental to the consumer and the majority of the plywood and LVLmanufacturing industry.2. The Australian Forestry Standard – AFS is not recognised by the GBC.To the best of the writer’s knowledge the primary reason why the GBC refuses to recognise theAFS is political rather than technical. Non-government Green organisations (NGO’s) do notapprove of the AFS rather they support the alternative FSC scheme which was initiallyestablished by the World Wildlife Fund. The main issues that GBC cite with the AFS include:‘conversion of native forest’ which as discussed previously no longer occurs in mainlandAustralia, acceptance of some chemicals and the use of genetically modified organisms(GMO’s). The use of GMO’s is a “non-issue” as there are no commercial genetically modifiedplantation forests in Australia. In reality, the AFS and FSC certification systems both ultimatelywork toward identical goals of providing a legal, sustainable and environmentally managedplantation forest resource.Another point of contention between the AFS and FSC and an issue of concern for the GBC isthe certification native forest in Australia. The AFS readily certifies sustainable native hardwoodforest in Australia. The FSC on the other hand, has certified and supports the logging of manyhundreds of thousands of hectares of old growth tropical rainforest in Asia, the Pacific and SouthAmerica but is yet to determine if it will extend certification to include Australian native hardwoodforest. The GBC appears to have reservations over the logging of Australian native hardwoodforests even where they are managed under an internationally recognised forest certificationscheme.This position is inconsistent as the GBC’s Mat-8 specification, page 2, para. 3 states “nodistinction is made between temperate or tropical timbers or between hardwoods andsoftwoods”. In reality, it would appear that sustainable Australian hardwood forestry under theAFS has been rejected while logging of tropical rainforest is not only supported but according tothe statement above is encouraged.It should be noted that the Australian plywood and LVL producing industries are based inplantation pine with 100% of LVL and over 90% of all Australian plywood being manufacturedfrom plantation pine.The AFS is a recognised Australian Standard, which has undergone the full independentdevelopment and approval process. This sets a very dangerous precedence that a foreignstandard or specification is recognised in favour of one developed within Australia.3. FSC certified plywood and LVL is only available in limited quantities from Australian producers.It is inevitable that the inability of Australian producers to supply timber products meeting theMat-8 specification will cause a dramatic increase in the use of imported product.It is well known that many overseas producers have difficulty in meeting Australian Standards forplywood and LVL especially in regard to structural ratings. In many cases and applications,imported structural plywood and LVL products have been found to be unsafe and there havebeen well-documented instances of structural failure resulting in loss of life caused by the

mislabelling and misuse of imported structural plywood. By excluding domestic producers fromsupplying material that is manufactured, tested and certified to Australian structural standards, asignificant safety risk is created through the potential misuse of imported substitutes.4. The GBC Mat-8 specification has the potential to seriously affect the financial viability of theAustralian plywood and LVL producing industries.The GBC subscribes to the triple bottom line philosophy, where the economic, environmentaland social aspects of the use of any product is considered. It appears that in regard to the Mat-8specification, the economic and social consequences of the specification have not been thoughtthrough and appear to have been completely ignored. A reduction in market access forAustralian manufacturers, who, through no fault of their own, cannot source FSC certified log, willresult in job losses. The majority of these job losses will be in rural areas where the opportunityfor re-employment is limited.This obviously has very severe economic consequences for such communities with theaccompanying social impacts.5. The Mat-8 specification will lead to an increase in the destruction of tropical rainforest.Australian manufacturers predominantly source their log resource from plantation pine certifiedunder the AFS. As stated previously the GBC will not recognise the AFS. The majority ofsubstitute FSC certified forest resource, which is used for plywood production, is located in SouthEast Asia and is exclusively tropical rainforest. It would appear absurd that there is a tangibleenvironmental benefit in destroying tropical rainforest in Asia to save Australian plantation pine,however, this will be the nett affect of the Mat-8 specification, through increasing demand forFSC certified forest products.CONCLUSIONThe Australian plywood and laminated veneer lumber producing industries have no alternative but tostrongly oppose the Green Building Council’s Mat-8 specification for the reasons outlined above.The plywood and LVL manufacturing industries seek to be good corporate citizens and produce a highquality product with the highest environmental credentials however it is impossible for the majority ofproducers to meet the GBC Mat-8 specification as it currently stands.The industry can however source log resource from forests certified under the Australian ForestryStandard. All forests certified under this standard are:1. Sustainable2. Legal3. Certified under a world recognised system of forest stewardship4. Certified under a duly reviewed and approved Australian Standard5. Socially beneficial – provides jobs and opportunities in Australia for AustraliansWe respectfully request that the Green Building Council review their Mat-8 Timber Specification topermit the use of timber from sustainably and environmentally managed forest resources underalternative forest management standards such as the AFS

If you wish to comment on or support the position of the Australasian plywood and LVL manufacturingindustry please forward email correspondence to inbox@paa.asn.auSimon DorriesGeneral ManagerPlywood Association of Australasia LtdMay 21 st , 2007