RONA a ‘leader in forest sustainability’ with new procurement policy, says Greenpeace

“This is the strongest procurement policy for wood products in North America that we’ve seen,” said Richard Brooks, forest campaign coordinator for Greenpeace Canada. “RONA’s policy confirms their commitment to sustainable development and outlines the tools they will be using to demand that their suppliers embrace sustainable forest management.”

Greenpeace say that RONA’s policy will lead to positive change on the ground in the forests of Canada and will hold their suppliers to a high standard. The policy gives purchasing preference to suppliers who work for the conservation of ecological and cultural values of forests.

Other major strengths of the policy are a clear preference for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products and the adoption of a realistic timetable for increasing its purchases of FSC certified lumber. Additionally Rona’s approach supports the protection of high conservation value and endangered forests, and will result in restrictions on suppliers who have a negative impact on forest health.

“The protection of intact forests must go hand in hand with adopting FSC certification. This is a strong policy because it deals with both pieces,” says Brooks. More than two thirds of Canada's commercial Boreal Forest has already been fragmented and degraded by development. Intact forest areas store more carbon than fragmented areas and are best suited to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“Today we applaud RONA’s leadership,” said Brooks. “This policy will lead to change on the ground and better protection for the most ecologically important areas of Canada’s forests. Consumers want their retailers to be green and this is a major step in the right direction for RONA.”

For more information, please contact:

Richard Brooks, Forest Campaign Coordinator: 416-573-7209

Rona's procurement policy is available for download.