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Wal-Mart overhauls wood supply chain

Wal-Mart has announced plans to stop buying furniture made with wood from unknown sources, and has committed to increase its selection of certified-wood products.

The world's largest retailer and owner of ASDA, Wal-Mart recently joined the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It plans to investigate its wood furniture supply chain and phase out any furniture made with wood obtained from illegal sources.

Current wood furniture purchasing practices were made public in December 2007, when the US Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reported that some of the wood furniture sold at Wal-Mart stores is made with timber obtained through illegal logging.

According to the EIA report, 84% of Wal-Mart's wood furniture comes from Chinese sources, and China obtains much of its wood from the Russian far east - a region where endangered tigers breed and one the WWF is working to protect.

Wal-Mart sells more furniture than any other US retail chain, and plans to complete its assessment of its wood furniture supply chain within the next year.

Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme

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