What does membership of the WWF-UK FTN mean?

Membership of the Forest & Trade Network may not be for everyone – you may find the resources here to assist you in assessing your business, and deciding what to do about products you buy. Because of our own level of resources, we also cannot work with all timber or paper purchasing companies in the UK, much as we would like to. However, we do want to bring about change, and so for those who are interested in membership of the WWF-UK FTN, it involves commitment to the following fundamental objectives.

Members are required:
- to work with WWF to trace all non credibly certified wood products back to forest source;

- to phase out all forest sources that are illegal, are the subject of unresolved social conflict or have high conservation value, unless credibly certified;

- to obtain substantial and increasing volumes of credibly certified wood and/or paper products;

- to make publicly available a clear statement of timber/paper policy, which meets WWF Global Forest & Trade Network requirements;

- to submit annually to the WWF-UK FTN a report on forest product use, including an annual action plan with SMART targets for improvement and;

- to comply with the Membership Guidance, Requirements and Communication Code of Practice, and not make any misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the forest products they sell.

All potential members of the WWF-UK FTN are assessed against their capacity and willingness to deliver these objectives prior to joining the network, as performance is assessed annually.

We monitor the members' business as it operates in the UK, and it is important that the business purchasing is reported on in full.

A critical first step of membership is to eliminate supplies where the forest source is not known, or the source is known but does not comply with the purchasing policy. The policy will include points such as eliminating products made from illegally harvested timber, or from forests that have been inappropriately clear-cut and converted to other land uses.

Members must work to trace all their timber and/or paper products back to the forest source. This is usually done by means of supplier questionnaires.


What are the benefits of membership?

Membership of the WWF-UK FTN, and onward association with the WWF Global Forest & Trade Network (link to www.panda.org/forestandtrade/), bring a number of benefits to organisations determined to produce or source forest products more responsibly. Some of these benefits include:

• practical guidance on how to source credibly certified timber and paper products, and how to encourage existing suppliers to seek certification;
• information on good forest management practices and credible certification systems;
• individual feedback from WWF on members' annual reports and progress made; and
• being involved in a successful solutions-based partnership.

Membership also enables companies to meet like-minded peers and to discuss pertinent issues.

How to join the WWF-UK Forest & Trade Network

Firstly, consider your own business scope, and how it can work with us on the fundamental objectives of the network. We may be able to assist you with our readily available guides and examples of activities undertaken by members. If you are interested in a greater level of engagement, please take a look at our membership documents to find out more about WWF-UK FTN and how to join. We do charge an annual fee for membership, but all funds are put back into providing members with support to achieve their goals.

• Membership leaflet
• Membership documents
• Example action plans
• Example purchasing policy
• Fees and Services structure
• Application form
• Reporting Guidance