First Ever FSC Endorsed Sleepers Installed By Railtrack
WWF - Forests For Life
October 4, 2000
London, UK - Train giant Railtrack has this month begun installation of the first ever delivery of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)1 endorsed railway sleepers on the United Kingdom rail network. As a further commitment to responsible forestry, Railtrack has pledged to buy only timber products from sources independently certified to FSC standards by the middle of 2001.
"As a progressive company, Kronospan fully supports FSC certification and is responding to the signals of time", says Peter Kaindl, Manager of the two Kronospan plants." The demand for FSC certified products is constantly growing, and we are pleased to be able to meet this increasing interest now."
The company is a long-standing member of the WWF 95+ Group2 - a network of suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, producers and end users working with WWF to encourage the sourcing of timber and timber products from independently certified forests.
A total of around 1,500 FSC endorsed hardwood (Karri) sleepers have been bought from South Africa, Guatemala and Brazil and used in London, Euston and South East area. Sleepers will also be used for other renewal work across the United Kingdom.
WWF-UK Chief Executive Robert Napier welcomes the news:
"WWF-UK is delighted that Railtrack has made this commitment supporting responsible forestry. Growth in rail travel is a key component for a future sustainable transport policy for this country. Railtrack is a major user of wood and their commitment to use timber from responsibly managed sources shows how the WWF 95+ Group is making a real difference to forest practice internationally."
Gerald Corbett, Railtrack's Chief Executive said:
"Railways are environmentally friendly, they take up less space than roads, make less noise than roads and pollute less than roads. However, we have to strive to make rail even greener. We take our environmental responsibilities seriously. Our commitment to use only FSC endorsed wood is further evidence that we are determined to contribute to a better environment for everyone."
Each year Railtrack's contractors buy 120,000 softwood sleepers (Douglas Fir, Scots Pine, Maritime Pine) from France and 40,000 hardwood sleepers (Karri, Ironwood) from South Africa, Guatemala and Brazil. By mid 2001 all these sources will be endorsed by the FSC.
For further information:
Gill Harrison, press officer, FSC/WWF 95+ Group on 020 7921 5445.
Photographs of the sleepers are available:
Please contact the Railtrack press office on 020 7557 8000.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. 1. The FSC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation. Its main activity is to accredit organisations which certify the quality of forest management. The FSC supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests.
2. The WWF 95+ Group is one of a growing number of Global Forest and Trade Networks operating in North America, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, the Nordic Countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland), the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. At the current rate of growth there will be 800 to 1000 members by the end of the year 2000.