DETAILED RESULTS AND COMPANY RESPONSES, MARCH 2021
Initially published in November 2020 by WWF-Belgium and updated in March 2021 to reflect the results of the study following the availability of information that was not known at the time of publication in November 2020.
Page 1 of 11 No. Product Retailer Description Response to request of Anatomical wood test result Response of retailer WWF evaluation description of the information product (in shop or online) 1 Angle Brico Cambara, Meranti, Indonesia Erisma spp. / VOCHYSIACEAE Brico reached out to their supplier Cambara is native to tropical South moulding FSC (Cambara) Deli Home, who informed that the America, a region where all countries certification product can also be made of other present a high risk of illegality. While types of wood with the same the species matches the product characteristics as Meranti. description in store, Brico informed According to them, the species is WWF of another composition for the not listed in their FSC certificate product and Cambara was not listed because they bought Cambara on in Brico’s supplier FSC certificate who a single occasion and forgot to imported the wood. WWF does not report it to their FSC auditor. have evidence that the supplier of Brico imported the wood with sufficient due diligence. Moreover, FSC certified companies must closely follow the FSC rules to safeguard the credibility of the system. FSC certification (or any other independent certification system) is not a green lane under the EUTR. 2 Storage IKEA Acacia, MDF, IKEA declined providing further Solid wood: not tested, acacia No response The anatomical results of the medium table Hol Made in information on the composition identified visually by WWF density fiberboard indicate that it is Vietnam of this product. experts. made from eucalyptus (plantation MDF: Eucalyptus spp. / tree) and kelat. Kelat designates a MYRTACEAE (eucalypt); group of tropical tree species Syzygium spp. / MYRTACEAE originating from the forests of South (kelat) East Asia, a region with a high risk of illegal logging. Kelat is generally not used to produce wood fiberboards. For instance, no FSC-certified MDF processor uses Syzygium spp. in their production. 3 Kitchen IKEA Oak veneer, IKEA declined providing further Fiberboard: Acer spp. / No response All species present in the product are island beech veneer, information on the composition SAPINDACEAE (maple); Fagus common in Europe, including Eastern Tornviken beech solid of this product. sylvatica / FAGACEAE (beech); Europe where the product was wood, particle Populus spp. / SALICACEAE manufactured. Eastern European board, (poplar); Picea spp. / countries present high risks of illegal fiberboard, PINACEAE (spruce) logging and uncontrolled mixing of made in timber in supply chains. Romania Particle board: Fagus sylvatica / FAGACEAE (beech); Picea spp. / PINACEAE (spruce)
Page 2 of 11 No. Product Retailer Description Response to request of Anatomical wood test result Response of retailer WWF evaluation description of the information product (in shop or online) 4 Clothes rack Jysk Pine The clothes rack consists of Solid wood: Pine identified No response Incomplete declaration on the Jennet MDF and solid pine. The solid visually by WWF. Isotope presence of solid poplar wood. In a pine comes from New Zealand. analysis could not verify the complex processing chain, the origins The MDF is made of poplar origin with high certainty. of solid wood and the wood used in wood (Populus tomentosa) and Reference samples from New the panels can be very different. Due comes from China. Zealand are needed to draw a diligence must consider all wood conclusion. species used in a product. Solid wood 2: Populus spp. / SALICACEAE (poplar) MDF: not tested 5 Wooden Leen Teak Teak from Indonesia and Solid wood: not tested, Leen Bakker's Quality & Incomplete declaration on the frame for Bakker (Indonesia) multiplex, no information about identified visually by WWF Environment Manager informed presence of acacia and jeungjing picture Max multiplex composition “because experts WWF that "As a result of your (Falcataria moluccana). Jeungjing has small quantity”. Plywood: Falcataria moluccana notification, we have either a geographical distribution that / FABACEAE-MIMOSOIDEA cancelled or temporarily includes Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, (jeungjing) suspended our purchase of these Cambodia and Indomalaysia, items from the suppliers concerned countries with a high risk of illegality. It and blocked them for sale. This at is a tree that is often planted including least until more clarity from our in deforested areas. suppliers and the overall situation has been obtained. According to the EUTR, we can assume that wood supplied in accordance with the FLEGT regulation has been guaranteed legality by the national / regional authorities and thus the due diligence system is guaranteed. We are currently working closely with our suppliers to investigate what might have gone wrong in the processes to be able to take targeted measures if necessary.”
Page 3 of 11 No. Product Retailer Description Response to request of Anatomical wood test result Response of retailer WWF evaluation description of the information product (in shop or online) 6 Coffee table Maisons Veneer: Solid wood: USA ash (Fraxinus Solid wood: genus identified Maisons du Monde Sustainable The presence of birch and okoumé in Okinawa du Quercus alba, americana) visually and isotope signature Procurement Department informed the product was not declared. Monde (USA) and Veneer: USA ash (Fraxinus matches USA. WWF: “I am very surprised about Okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana) is Fraxinus americana) + oak from the USA Veneer: genus identified the test results. Even though these classified as vulnerable on the Red americana (Quercus rubra) visually by WWF experts, three references [referring to the List of Species and originates in (USA) isotope signature matches USA. three products WWF found central tropical Africa. Central African MDF Populus tomentosa MDF: fibers not tested, top and incoherences in] have been countries present a high risk of Solid wood: (China) bottom veneer: removed from our catalogue. I illegality in the forest sector. Fraxinus *BURSERACEAE best agree: have nevertheless contacted the americana Aucoumea klaineana (okoumé) suppliers in question for a more in- Betula spp. / BETULACEAE depth investigation and informed (USA) (birch) our purchasing departments for MDF (China) greater vigilance in the new Plywood (not mentioned in collections.” product description): Quercus spp. / FAGACEAE (oak); *BURSERACEAE best agree: Aucoumea klaineana (okoumé); Populus spp. / SALICACEAE (poplar) 7 Coffee table Maisons Solid wood: Veneer: French Oak (Quercus Veneer and solid wood: oak Maisons du Monde Sustainable The composition of the particle board Rochester du Quercus robur) PEFC certified identified visually by WWF Procurement Department informed is inconsistent with the list of declared Monde robur, Solid wood: French Oak experts, isotopic signature WWF: “I am very surprised about species. Iroko (Milicia excelsa) is (France) (Quercus robur) PEFC certified matches the declared origin. the test results. Even though these distributed throughout tropical Africa Veneer: Particle board: PEFC board Particle board: Pinus cf. three references [referring to the (including East and West Africa) Quercus from Italy (Abies alba; sylvestris, P. massoniana / three products WWF found where the risk of illegality in the forest robur, France Eucalyptus spp; Fagus sylvatica PINACEAE (pine) incoherences in] have been sector is high and high rates of Particle L.; Pinus spp.; Quercus spp) Populus spp. / SALICACEAE removed from our catalogue. I deforestation are observed. board: mixed (poplar) ; Eucalyptus spp. / have nevertheless contacted the wood, France MYRTACEAE (eucaplypt) ; suppliers in question for a more in- Quercus spp. / FAGACEAE depth investigation and informed (oak); MORACEAE best agree: our purchasing departments for Milicia excelsa (Iroko) greater vigilance in the new collections.”
Page 4 of 11 No. Product Retailer Description Response to request of Anatomical wood test result Response of retailer WWF evaluation description of the information product (in shop or online) 8 Sideboard WEBA Massive fir Solid wood: Fir, Solid wood: After sharing the results WEBA Incomplete declaration on the Eyre scientific name is Cunninghamia Cunninghamia spp. explained that the full composition presence of Schima spp, okoumé and lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. / CUPRESSACEAE (Chinese of the product was known but that poplar in the furniture. Okoumé The origin is China. fir) with an isotope signature not they and their supplier had not (Aucoumea klaineana) is classified as typical for China, but regional understood the initial request (note Vulnerable on the Red List of Species Plywood: Chinese oak and information and reference that WWF explicitly asked for the and originates in central tropical pine, from Fujian Province, material would be necessary to composition and origin of all the Africa. Central African countries China wood used in the product, including present a high risk of illegality in the exclude a Chinese origin. plywood). WEBA however did not forest sector. Schima spp. / provide evidence for this new Tree species of the genus Schima are THEACEAE (samak) information and did not provide distributed in China, South and South- information about the country of East Asia. The wood in the product is Plywood: *BURSERACEAE harvest of the wood used, making therefore potentially from a country best agree: the declaration still incomplete. with a high risk of illegality. Aucoumea klaineana (okoumé); Populus spp. / SALICACEAE (poplar) 9 Sideboard WEBA Massive Mango wood, India, no Solid wood: Mangifera spp. / After sharing the results WEBA Incomplete declaration on the Levente mango & MDF information about the ANACARDIACEAE (mango explained that the full composition presence of eucalyptus in the product. composition of the MDF wood) of the product was known but that Eucalyptus is a plantation tree, MDF: Eucalyptus spp. / they and their supplier had not associated to low risks of illegality MYRTACEAE (eucalyptus) understood the initial request (note except where it might be planted on that WWF explicitly asked for the illegally cleared lands. composition and origin of all the wood used in the product). WEBA however did not provide evidence for this new information and did not provide information about the origin of the wood used, making the declaration still incomplete. 10 Telephone WEBA Sheesham Dalbergia Sissoo (Rose wood) – Solid wood: Mangifera spp. / After sharing the results WEBA Incomplete declaration on the table Tredici Country & region of origin: ANACARDIACEAE (mango explained that the full composition presence of mango wood in the North India. WEBA provided a wood); Dalbergia of the product was known but that product. The mango wood is often legality certificate applying to cf. Sissoo / FABACEAE – they and their supplier had not cultivated but can also come from Dalbergia used in handicrafts FABOIDEAE (sheesham) understood the initial request (note natural tropical forests. from India (otherwise Dalbergia that WWF explicitly asked for the are listed under CITES, with an composition and origin of all the exception for Indian handicrafts) wood used in the product). WEBA however did not provide evidence for this new information and did not provide information about the origin of the wood used, making the declaration still incomplete.
Page 5 of 11 No. Product Retailer Description of Response to Anatomical wood test result Response of retailer WWF evaluation description the product request of (in shop or information online) 11 Picture frame Leen Natural Recycled wood Solid wood: Tectona grandis / After WWF shared test The teak frame shows a typical Andy Bakker recycled wood (Melia azedarach) LAMIACEAE (structure typical of teak from results showing structure of teak from natural forests. natural forest); Dipterocarpus spp. / mismatches between Natural teak forests persist in India, DIPTEROCARPACEAE (keruing); declaration and test Laos and Thailand and about half of Artocarpus spp. /MORACEAE (Ttrap, keledang) results, Leen Bakker them in Myanmar. The teak is therefore Plywood: Falcataria moluccana / FABACEAE - provided a FLEGT license most probably not from Indonesia, but MIMOSOIDEAE (jeungjing) valid for teak (Tectona from a country with a high risk of illegal grandis), country of harvest logging, such as Myanmar or Laos. In Indonesia. Leen Bakker addition, 3 other undeclared South East also argued that "It is well Asian tropical wood species are found known that legal timber in the product. Among the keruing and does not necessarily have terap, many species have an to come from plantations." unfavorable conservation status. 12 Side table Leen NA Tectona grandis, Solid wood: Wrightia spp./ APOCYNACEAE No specific response on The composition of the table does not Modena Bakker Indonesia V-Legal (Lanete, dudhi) this item but see general correspond to the one on the FLEGT document reaction underneath. legality license. Species of the genus Wrightia are distributed in South and South-East Asia, including countries at high risk of illegality in the forest sector. Of the 8 species on the Red List, half are vulnerable or endangered. 13 Side table Leen Javawood V-legal certificate Table 1/solid wood: Phellodendron amurense No specific response on Neither of the two tables is produced in Dorean (2 Bakker states country of / RUTACEAE (Amur cork tree); this item but see general the species covered by the FLEGT items bought) harvest: Indonesia, Table 2/solid wood: Senegalia, Acacia spp. / reaction underneath. legality license. The Amur cork tree species: Java hout FABACEAE-MIMOSOIDEAE (acacia) (Phellodendron amurense) is distributed also called Mindi in temperate Asia, a distribution that hout, (Melia includes countries and regions with a azedarach) high risk of illegality in the forest sector (e.g. Russian Far East). General reaction Leen Bakker: Leen Bakker's Quality & Environment Manager informed WWF that "As a result of your notification, we have either cancelled or temporarily suspended our purchase of these items from the suppliers concerned and blocked them for sale. This at least until more clarity from our suppliers and the overall situation has been obtained. According to the EUTR, we can assume that wood supplied in accordance with the FLEGT regulation has been guaranteed legality by the national / regional authorities and thus the due diligence system is guaranteed. We are currently working closely with our suppliers to investigate what might have gone wrong in the processes to be able to take targeted measures if necessary.”
Page 6 of 11 No. Name of Retailer Description of Response to request of information Anatomical and isotopic analysis results Response of WWF evaluation product the product in retailer store/online 16 Resting Aveve Wood The scientific and trade name for the Solid wood 1: Pinus cf. radiata or After WWF No concordance between board on used wood or wood particals (per P. contorta / PINACEAE with isotopic shared test the declaration and the slat wood) : Pinus armandii signature not matching China. results, Aveve results, including the - the country of origin of the used wood Solid wood 2: Pinus cf. sylvestris or informed presence of wood with a high or wood particles: Dongbei China P. massoniana / PINACEAE with isotopic WWF that the risk of illegality. Okoumé is signature matching China. plywood used classified as vulnerable on Plywood 1: Calophyllum spp. / in the product the Red List of Species and CALOPHYLLACEAE (bintangor) is FSC originates in central tropical Populus spp. / SALICACEAE certified and Africa. Central African Eucalyptus spp. / MYRTACEAE shared an countries present a high risk Plywood 2: *BURSERACEAE best agree: FSC certificate of illegality in the forest Aucoumea klaineana (okoumé) from a sector. Bintangor, on the Populus spp. / SALICACEAE (poplar) Chinese other hand, is native to plywood South and South-East Asia company. and out of 55 species of the However, genus Calophyllum on the there was no Red List, half are in a further vulnerable to critical evidence that conservation status. the company is Aveve’s Since the final product is not supplier and FSC-certified, the chain of that certified custody is not warranted. plywood is There is insufficient proof used in the that the shared certificate product. covers the plywood that is used in the product. Indeed, a supplier can have an FSC certificate but also use/produce non-certified materials.
Page 7 of 11 No. Name of Retailer Description of Response to request of information Anatomical and isotopic analysis results Response of WWF evaluation product the product in retailer store/online 17 Nest box Aveve wood WWF contacted Aveve and their Solid wood: not tested Aveve did not Plywood is not composed of supplier Flamingo Pet Products. Plywood: *BURSERACEAE react to the the declared species. Flamingo Pet Products informed us that best agree: Aucoumea klaineana (Okoumé), test results. Okoumé is classified as the product is made of: Populus spp. / SALICACEAE (poplar) vulnerable on the Red List of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese Fir) Species and originates from Origin: China Central Tropical Africa. Central African countries When we asked again about the present a high risk of plywood, they provided further illegality in the forest sector. information: Species: birch and Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolate) Origin: China 18 Incense Aveve NA Aveve communicated the name of their Solid wood: Dalbergia cf. latifolia Aveve did not The species detected does holder supplier Drake Manufacture. Drake react to the not correspond to the one Manufacture in turn responded that test results. declared. It is in fact Indian they had imported the incense holders rosewood, a species in a and that they are made of Sonowood vulnerable conservation (Pterocarpus indicus) from Indonesia. status, listed under Appendix II of the CITES Convention and which must therefore be exported and imported with dedicated certificates. It very probable that the items have been imported in violation of the CITES legislation, since the items were purchased in May 2019, before exceptions were introduced on Dalbergia sp. 19 Mirror Casa Recycled solid Recycled solid wood: poplar (China) Solid wood: Cunninghamia spp. / No response, No concordance between Recycle wood: poplar CUPRESSACEAE (Chinese fir); Larix spp. / Casa also did the declared species and the (China) PINACEAE ((Siberian) Larch); not respond to composition of the mirror. Acer spp. / SAPINDACEAE the question This raises questions as to how they the nature of the wood and verify that the how Casa verifies the wood is from a recycled origin of the wood. recycled origin.
Page 8 of 11 No. Name of Retailer Description of Response to request of information Anatomical and isotopic analysis results Response of WWF evaluation product the product in retailer store/online 20 Bench with IKEA Wood, Made in IKEA declined providing further Solid wood: Betula sp. (birch) No response The product description does shoe China information about the composition of Particle board: Pinus spp. / PINACEAE not contain any information storage this product. (Pine); Schima spp. / THEACEAE (Schima); about the composition. With Tjusig Liquidambar spp. / HAMAMELIDACEAE the exception of acacia and (Amber wood); Quercus spp. / FAGACEAE eucalyptus, which are (Mempening); Acacia spp. / FABACEAE- common plantation trees, the MIMOSOIDEAE; Eucalyptus spp. / wood species used in the MYRTACEAE product are widespread in natural forests, including in regions where forests are at high risk of illegal exploitation (temperate Asia, including Russia, Central America, South and South- East Asia). 21 Lantern Jysk Birch Birch (China) Solid wood: Pinus cf. radiata No response No concordance between Eremitt or P. contorta / PINACEAE, isotopic the declaration of analysis excludes a Chinese origin. composition and origin and the laboratory results. 22 Tray table Jysk Oak veneer, Veneer: red oak (China) Veneer: Quercus spp. / FAGACEAE (oak). No response Plywood includes poplar, a Balling plywood Plywood: Alniphyllum spp. (China) The origin could not be verified through species not included in the isotopic because the veneer was too thin. company's declaration. Plywood: Alniphyllum fortunei / STYRACACEA; Populus spp./ SALICACEAE 23 Insect hotel Jysk Pine All the wood used is Pinus radiata D. Solid wood: Eucalyptus spp./ No response The product includes two Sjagger Don (Nieuw-Zeeland) MYRTACEAE and Pinus radiata or Pinus species that were not contorta/ PINACEAE included in the company's Plywood: Populus spp./ SALICACEAE declaration.
Page 9 of 11 No. Name of Retailer Description of Response to request of information Anatomical and isotopic analysis results Response of WWF evaluation product the product in retailer store/online 24 Aaron stool Maisons Recycled Product composed of eucalyptus and Solid wood: Eucalyptus spp. / No further Maisons du Monde did not du eucalypt and Indian medium density fibreboard. MYRTACEAE information to know the composition of the Monde particle board. Maisons du Monde informed WWF that Plywood: *BURSERACEAE best agree: first panel which included species the product is made of recovered wood. Aucoumea klaineana (okoumé); Sterculia information at risk. With reclaimed To verify this, they ask all their spp. / MALVACEAE; Populus spp. / exchange. timber, the retailer does suppliers to provide proof of purchase SALICACEAE; BOMBACEAE best agree: necessarily need to know its of recycled wood. Furthermore, Ceiba spp. composition. However, the Maisons du Monde informed that this panel used in the product is product was not renewed in our 2020 plywood rather than MDF, catalogue due to lack of traceability in hence it is unknown whether the supply chain. the retailer has sufficient evidence that this panel is from a recycled origin. Okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana) is classified as vulnerable on the Red List of species and originates from central tropical Africa. Central African countries present a high risk of illegality in the forest sector. The red list lists 5 species in the genus Ceiba, 1 of which is in a vulnerable state. Ceiba and Sterculia are distributed throughout the tropical basins of which many countries are at high risk of illegality.
Page 10 of 11 WWF purchased a total of 27 products at Action, Aveve, Brico, Casa, Maisons du Monde, Jysk, Weba, Leen Bakker, Kwantum, Mr Bricolage where the anatomic and isotopic test results matched the retailer declarations. In several cases the product description in store did not correspond to the product composition, but the retailer or their supplier had the correct information available. WWF asked those retailers to provide customers with correct product information.
• 16 products were submitted to the EUTR • 6 products carried a FLEGT/SVLK license • 5 products were not submitted to the EUTR or FLEGT • 13 products were FSC-certified • 1 product was PEFC certified
Page 11 of 11