WASHINGTON/GENEVA - The third edition of Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-Based Products has been released online by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

The freely-accessible guide, intended to help buyers source wood products from sustainably managed forests and improve forest management. The new edition reportedly incorporates the most up-to-date developments on the legality of forest products and new technological developments to control wood and paper supply chains and increase their transparency. It includes an expanded chapter on the social implications of forest products.

The guide also provides an overview of forest sustainability initiatives and terminology of sustainable forest products.

James Griffiths, Managing Director, Forest Solutions at the WBCSD said, “Every single business uses wood and paper-based products on a daily basis, be that paper for printing and packaging or wood in construction, or as office furniture. As demand for wood increases, and the competition for forest-based products intensifies, business needs to make better decisions on sourcing in order to support and incentivize sustainable forest- management. Our guide will help them do just that.”

View the guide and resource kit at SustainableForestP,oducts.org.