Cleaning the Merbau Market

Lead Group(s):

Environmental Investigation Agency

Support Group(s):  

Telapak (based in Bogor, Indonesia)

Illegal Logging in Indonesia

Description of the Problem the Campaign is seeking to address (50 word max):

Papua Province, Indonesia is suffering from an illegal logging epidemic that is destroying its unique biodiversity; exploiting its indigenous communities leading to human rights violations, intimidation, and violence; and undermining this fragile regions rule of law. The harvest of merbau for the international market is driving illegal logging in Papua.

Description of the Victory (30 word max):

After EIAs merbau report release, Armstrong developed, with EIA input, a Corporate Environmental Sustainability Strategy and a relationship with the Tropical Forest Foundation to assist in its implementation.

A Brief Description of the long-term impact of the victory (150 word max):

The global demand for merbau was markedly reduced when some of the worlds largest wood products retailers ceased all merbau sales--Home Depot in July 2006, Lowes in the third quarter of 2006, European retailers John Lewis, Travis Perkins, Jewson, Wickes, and International Decorative Surfaces in March 2006 (these fall outside the 2007 Benny Award timeframe).

Armstrong went beyond its merbau sales. Its new corporate-wide Sustainability Strategy addresses Armstrongs overall environmental footprint, including energy and water consumption and sustainable forest management; the latter includes a strict Exotic Wood Purchasing Policy. As the world's largest flooring manufacturer and wholesaler, this new policy will affect the demand for a range of tropical timber species, force Armstrongs many Asian suppliers to adhere to stricter standards, and allow Armstrongs example to be followed by others in the industry. Generally, this commitment will raise awareness of illegal logging with both retailers and consumers.