Recent news from the Netherlands has demonstrated the importance certification has in verifying claims as it highlighted an organisation’s sustainability claims. A company claiming to be using sustainably sourced wood as a way to combat climate change by sourcing wood fuel locally has been found to be importing wood fuel from Scotland – over 800km from its claimed wood-sourcing radius. 

This has highlighted the need for ongoing, robust certification so that consumers can feel confident the product they are buying follows the sustainability claims it is making. Woodsure fuel quality certification requires clear, transparent sourcing – all wood fuel from suppliers holding a valid Woodsure certificate provides assurance that fuel has been sourced from a legal, sustainable source, granting users the confidence they are burning high-quality fuel from a responsibly managed woodland. Regular audits are also undertaken to ensure this is upheld. 

Committing to sustainability without accurate tracing 

Dutch energy company Warmtebedrijf Ede claim in their 2022 sustainability report that wood is only sourced from a radius of 150km around Ede, the city in the Netherlands where the company is based. This is to align with sustainability claims where only locally sourced wood is used, reducing emissions and the distance fuel has to travel. 

However, investigative reporting discovered that in 2022, over 7,000m³ of biomass was transported from Scotland to the Netherlands. 

Wood that was claimed to be sustainably (and locally) sourced had in fact travelled over 800kms overseas from Scotland before being used to heat homes and businesses in the Netherlands. An intermediary supplier did not hold the necessary ‘Better Biomass Certificate’ that the company claimed all its suppliers held in their 2022 sustainability report. An employee commented that it is possible the over 7,000m³ of wood from Scotland could not be traced, calling into question its sustainability, legality, and quality. 

When questioned about the timber that was shipped in from abroad in 2022, the company denied any knowledge, stating that any wood it had imported was just from Germany – not Scotland. 

Why certification matters 

This case demonstrates how sustainability claims can be undermined without robust, independent certification. When supply chains lack oversight and contradict the sustainability claims of an organisation, customers and partners will lose trust in the other claims made, doubting the wood fuel’s sustainability. 

Certification ensures that all legality and sustainability requirements are met across the entire supply chain, backing up any claims a company may make. The independent, robust, and impartial certification that Woodsure provides instils assurance that wood fuel is sourced responsibly, meets quality standards, and is fully traceable – from origin to end user. 

Having this level of robust oversight, all contained within an industry-recognised mark, protects both our local environment and the reputation of suppliers, giving consumers confidence in the products they choose.