47 Wood as a raw material Over the last reporting period, more solid timber was again processed in Bützberg than in 2019/2020. A total of 1,664 m3 was processed, which represents an increase of 10.9%. In 2021, 99.9% of the total volume of timber, including so-called American walnut (Juglans nigra), and in 2022 100% was sourced solely from sustainably managed European forests. We attach the greatest importance to sustainable forestry. In this field, the various existing eco-certificates and labels often provide insufficient certainty. Although they are awarded by various institutions, associations or so-called “ independent” testing institutes, there is usually a lack of regular checks and inspections after a certificate has been awarded. Moreover, protected forests are being felled and some quality labels have proven to be deceptive eco-promises. The dangerous extent to which these abuses have reached was revealed in early 2023 by an international investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (a global network of 280 investigative journalists in over 100 countries). This research demonstrated how the valuable resource of wood is being threatened by illegal logging, increasing global demand and questionable certifications. In response, Greenpeace Switzerland stated in a press article dated 2 March 2023, that: “ Wood labels like FSC can actually be harmful”. The implication here being that every kind of label must to be critically examined. This makes it all the more important for us to know exactly where our solid timber comes from. To ensure that our solid timber only comes from sustainable forestry practices, our timber is assessed and purchased locally by Girsberger’s specialists in the field throughout Europe. This on-site assessment and procurement is associated with ongoing high travel expenses to the sometimes extremely remote forested areas of Europe. However, this effort pays off. That’s because we can monitor trees on their journey from logs to the processed end product: from the very beginning, be it directly in the forest or at the log yard where the logs are collected, through to the work in the sawmill, the processes in the steaming chamber and to the years of storage in the open air – followed by kiln drying. The origin and seasoning of logs, all the way through to the usable raw product are consequently permanently subjected to our monitoring. Oak is and will remain a highly sought-after wood for the foreseeable future. Consequently, this species has become heavily overexploited and is at risk of ruthless logging. For this reason, we have been working with the French APECF Association (Association pour l’emploi des chênes et des feuillus français) since 2019. This association, whose members include all the processors of French hardwoods, is supported and promoted by the government of France. The association aims to safeguard the limited availability of this resource in the medium and long term, and also to secure employment in the sector. With this in mind, the association has set itself the task of disseminating and implementing an “ EU Transformation” quality seal. The companies accredited by the association are obliged to export any oak logs purchased under this state-supported label exclusively to EU member countries, Switzerland and England, and then to process this timber only within these borders. Each company is audited at least once per year. During these inspections, the timber purchased through EU sales must have demonstrable confirmation of its ecological integrity and traceability. In addition, inspections may also be carried out on site at the customers of accredited companies. Under this strict set of rules, the use and further processing of French oak logs is strictly controlled and managed in an environmentally friendly manner. Further information about this quality mark is available at: https://label-apecf-80. webself.net/presentation. Due to the expansion of our timber trading operations, which have been a separate Girsberger business unit since 2014, the volume of our own solid timber requirements is now of secondary importance. At the storage sites of Girsberger’s wood processing Ecology Peter Reichen Head of Wood Trading, Girsberger AG International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) Link to the website: https://www.icij.org/investigations/ deforestation-inc/
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