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Buying wood products does not by definition have to be an environmental sin. But unfortunately illegal logging in many countries is very much out of control. In Indonesia and Papua New Guinea it accounts for 80 and 70% respectively of all timber exports, the vast majority of which ends up in China where it is made into goods and exported again to places like the UK.

According to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Britain is the largest importer of illegal timber in Europe and the third largest in the world. Yet currently importers and retailers in Europe cannot be prosecuted for trading in illegal timber. The EIA is trying to change that by calling for new laws in the UK to outlaw sales of illegally logged or traded timber, arguing that voluntary schemes are not working.

So before making a purchase think about where the wood came from and check out Friends of the Earth's guide on buying wood products.