Radiata Pine- A Sustainable Resource
The majority of the wood used in the manufacturing of our products is Radiata Pine from Chile. Radiata Pine plantations produce timber much faster than natural forests. In Chile, the sustained yield from radiata pine plantations is currently 15 million cubic meters, and this is expected to increase to 24 million cubic meters by the year 2010.
Radiata Pine, used in the manufacture of the Butler Woodcrafter’s pine collections, is native to California. Radiata Pine is characterized by the Yellowish white color of its wood, with slight color differences between its sapwood and heartwood. The growth rings produce a pronounced appearance.
Radiata Pine has adapted so well to the climate of Chile and New Zealand that it grows much faster than in its native country. Today Chile has more than 1.4 million hectares of Radiata Pine plantations which are the basis of Chile's forest industry.
The majority of these plantations are young, which assures substantial volumes of wood products will be available for many years. Because of its fast growth rate, Radiata Pine forests react quickly and favorably to forest management practices which allow the species to be oriented to market needs. These forests are being carefully managed to produce larger diameter logs as well as a higher percentage of knot-free lumber from each tree. Through careful nursery and fertilization techniques, the next generation of Radiata Pine trees will grow even faster and have better yields than ever before. Because of its abundant availability, the economies of scale at which it can be produced and the virtually unending supply, Radiata Pine is a great green alternative to many other woods.
The European Beech used in the manufacture of the Butler Woodcrafter’s Beechwood Collection of contract casegoods is provided by a source that is PEFC certified since October 30, 2006. Their registration number is COC-1862717 effective through October 29, 2011.
What is PEFC? The PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999 which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.
PEFC is a global umbrella organization for the assessment of and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. These national schemes build upon the inter-governmental processes for the promotion of sustainable forest management, a series of on-going mechanisms supported by 149 governments in the world covering 85% of the world's forest area.
PEFC has in its membership 35 independent national forest certification systems of which 23 to date have been through a rigorous assessment process involving public consultation and the use of independent assessors to provide the assessments on which mutual recognition decisions are taken by the membership. These 23 systems account for more than 200 million hectares of certified forests producing millions of tons of certified timber to the market place making PEFC the world's largest certification system. The other national member’s schemes are at various stages of development and are working towards mutual recognition under the PEFC processes.
