Thursday, January 22, 2026
The formal membership of PEFC UK (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification UK) in the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) represents a pivotal development in increased cooperation between forest-based businesses in the UK and Ireland. To promote sustainable timber use and boost trust in wood goods obtained ethically, the move unites two powerful organisations.
As a not-for-profit organisation, PEFC UK plays a central role in promoting sustainable forest management through independent, third-party certification. Its certification framework supports responsible sourcing and traceability, helping the UK timber industry meet growing environmental, regulatory, and market-driven sustainability expectations. By joining TIMCON as an affiliate member, PEFC UK aims to engage more closely with the timber pallet and packaging sector, an industry that consumes approximately 1.5 million cubic metres of sawn timber each year across the UK and Ireland.
TIMCON is the leading trade association representing the wooden pallet, packaging, and crate manufacturing sector in the region. Its membership spans manufacturers, recyclers, and repairers, making it a vital platform for industry collaboration, standards development, and advocacy.
John Kirkby, Executive Director of PEFC UK, said the membership reflects the organisation’s commitment to working across the timber supply chain. He noted that closer engagement with the pallet and packaging sector will help raise awareness of the environmental and commercial benefits of specifying timber from sustainably managed, certified forests. Kirkby added that collaboration with TIMCON members presents a valuable opportunity to embed responsible sourcing more deeply into the manufacture of pallets and packaging.
TIMCON General Secretary Stuart Hex welcomed PEFC UK’s membership, describing it as a strategic fit with the confederation’s goals. He highlighted that partnerships with organisations such as PEFC UK enhance industry-wide efforts to promote sustainable timber, support best practice in pallet manufacture and repair, and reinforce trust in forest-based industries both domestically and internationally.
The partnership underscores a wider trend within the timber sector toward closer cooperation between certification bodies and industry groups. By aligning expertise in forest certification with on-the-ground manufacturing and logistics, PEFC UK and TIMCON aim to support a more resilient, transparent, and sustainable timber supply chain across the UK and Ireland—benefiting businesses, forests, and end users alike.
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Tags: forest certification, pefc uk, sustainable forest management, sustainable timber, timber industry UK, timber packaging, TIMCON, Wooden Pallets
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