WWF Unveils First FSC Certified House in Europe
7/14/99
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Title: WWF Unveils First FSC Certified House in Europe
Source: World Wide Fund for Nature, Sweden
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: July 14, 1999
WWF today unveiled Europe's first FSC-certified wooden house, "Vistet
Fritid". The ceremony was performed at the Living Expo, an exhibition
for architecture, interior and industrial design in Helsingborg,
Sweden (1).
Vistet Fritid is a modern log house for compact living or vacation
use. It has been designed by Thomas Sandell and Anders Landstrom, two
of Sweden's most acclaimed architects, and produced in cooperation
with WWF-Sweden.
The frame is made from FSC-certified timber, donated by the
international forest products company SCA. Houses are built by hand
to a large extent, and have only just gone into commercial
production.
"We are very proud to present this exciting house which has been
built according to old Nordic technology," said Ingemar Ohrn,
Chairman of WWF Sweden's Board.
"The fact that it is FSC-certified means that the wood comes from a
well-managed forest. At the same time it is designed for a modern
lifestyle."
For more information please contact:
Margaret Rainey, Coordinator, WWF Nordic Trade Network, tel. +46 708
24 76 64 ;
Marie von Zeipel, Press Officer WWF Sweden, tel. +46 70 629 1077 ;
Bertil Harstrom, Project Coordinator, Vistet Fritid, tel. +46 70 583
8999 ;
Torbjorn Kallberg, Managing Director, Gardstunet AB, tel. +46 70 212
0112
NOTES:
(1) Vistet Fritid will be exhibited at the Swedish Living Expo, where
200,000 visitors are expected, until 29 August 1999. It will be
auctioned off on 25 August, and part of the proceeds will go to WWF.
(2) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international independent
organization that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially
beneficial and economically viable management of forests. FSC
certification is a voluntary agreement between the forest owner, the
FSC and an independent, accredited certifier. WWF supports the FSC
and certification of forestry as an important means of creating a
market for responsibly produced forest products.
The FSC eco-label is a way of informing the consumer that the wood
comes from well-managed forests. There are at present about 17
million hectares FSC certified forests in the world and several
thousand FSC certified products on the European market.