PEFC wood flooring to protect the environment

Wooden PEFC flooring contributes to environmental protection

In Europe, the majority of forests had not always been organized with the primary concern of biodiversity. If our forests, (except for particulars in Eastern Europe), no longer undergo deforestation and are conserved, sadly this is not the case for tropical forests.)

PEFC on demand means : the PEFC origin of incoming woods for the product is generally PEFC. To authenticate and guarantee the origin PEFC we will carry on your bill if you make the request.

More than 90% of our wooden floors, for sale, is made under sustainable management CONTROL and come from Western Europe

From 2005 on, forests were devasted. The import of unlabeled timber from all origins had destroyed forests but also destroyed the French and European industries ; a number of companies have closed being « strangled » by dubious importers.

Our clients were not, or a little, aware of the situation we had to face. They expected a high quality, original, certified and competitive natural wood floor. Who could we buy it from ? Products from Asia dominate the market. We had to react to build and to perpetuate a long-lasting and successful business here.

In 2009, we decided to invest in finishing lines for wood floors. Once we were self-sufficient, in regard to surface treatment, we could direct our raw wood floors supplies to French industrialists. We then were capable to give ourselves the « means » and the « tools » to select them according to criteria of quality and origin.

For more than 90% of our supplies, « Emois et Bois » only purchases wood floors certified by the Pan European Forest Certification (PEFC). This is a program for the endorsement of forest certification schemes.

Since 2011, « Emois et Bois » has registered and participated in the supply chain in accordance with PEFC standards which guarantees the traceability of wood but also that this wood is produced under sustainable forest management control. « Emois and Bois » favours carefully selected suppliers who come mainly from France ; some others come from Western Europe.)

For exotic wooden parquet floors, species from certified forests FSC

This is far more complicated, illegal timber overruns the market, as this following video shows Video BVB/ Greenpeace on YouTube.

What can we do ? The market calls the tune. It is up to the consumer to decide. The selling price is, unfortunately, too often, the only criterion.

We have come to the decision to limit ourselves to only a certain species imported by trustworthy companies who guarantee that they only provide wood types from FSC certified forests (Forest Stewarding Council) forests. This international organisation seeks to set up a unique, worldwide and independant labeling system.

Wood regulation from the European Union

On 3rd March 2013, a new European amendment was made effective to fight against the illegal wood trade ; the timber regulation of the European Community. This new set of rules obliges traders, who want to sell timber or wood products, to identify their providers. They must ensure the traceability of wood.

« Emois et Bois » did not wait for this regulation to commercialize, first and formost, certified wood floors and to join the PEFC.

Wood floors from China

Importing wood parquets from China changes the game…

China has become a key player in the worldwide production of wood floors and their parquets have been flooding European markets. Our goal is to remain competitive and meet the demands of our clients in terms of appealing prices without taking part in savage deforestation. To do so, we strive to supply our clientele with parquet flooring made only of wood of healthy and honest origin.

The main wood producing countries: Indonesia, Latin America, Africa, South-East Asia, etc. export a significant portion of their resources. However, in past years, a considerable development in their production tools has allowed them to export an increasing amount of finished products instead of lumber.

The same does not apply to China, whose oak resources are low in comparison to their high production. China massively imports oak from most producing countries. Their proximity to Siberia makes it an origin of choice, though they also import from Eastern Europe (Romania, Bulgaria, etc.) and North America.

In 2007, purchases of lumber by China on the French markets caused a 30% rise in the market price of standing timber and an increase of over 10% in the price of wood flooring among European industrialists.

Simultaneously, China is flooding Europe with particularly low-priced wood floors.
China is a very large country and the quality of their production tools is inconsistent. Some, indeed, are equipped with very powerful German-made machines. In certain other activity sectors, the Chinese have proven their ability to achieve extremely high levels of technology; in the parquet industry, they will nevertheless be confronted with the scarcity of their resources for some time to come.

In order to respond to demands, these supply difficulties force the Chinese to mix different origins of oak in their productions. The result is a significant disparity in appearance and an inconsistent quality of their finished products.

Like certain distributers, mass retailers like to be seen as “discounters”. They have limited European supply, import massively from China, and offer wood flooring of often mediocre quality, without any clear origin, at very low prices. Consumers are left not knowing which way is up.
As distributors, when dealing with imports of wood floors from China, it is hard to be sure of the origin of the wood or if it is certified organic (PEFC). It is equally as difficult to trust certain fantasy labels.

Our experience alone enables us to recognize woods of the finest origins and select parquet products of healthy and honest origin for our clients, focusing primarily on PEFC certified wood floors from France and Western Europe.

Commercializing, first and formost, certified wood floors

In the inquiry conducted among our providers, we note that more and more manufacturers of hardwood floors are aware of the need to work together to preserve the world’s forest heritage. More and more certified wood floors are now commercialized.

Ensuring a labeled Purchase

When buying a product, please make sure that the provider supplies an invoice, indicating that the product is PEFC certified. The invoice should also mention the percentage of wood (PEFC certified) contained in the product and the manufacturer’s membership number.