AtoZ Wood Company Responsible Sourcing Policy
Here are the four pillars of our responsible forest management approach
Pre-Felling Inventory
Before harvesting forests, we take a record of the number, size, and diameter of each tree. This helps us plan strategically the number and type of trees to cut at a time, ensuring that no unnecessary damage or threat comes to the forest ecosystem.
Legality
We strictly comply with the regulations of sourcing only those legal timber materials and products that have been harvested, processed, and sold in compliance with the respective laws and regulations of the country where it is harvested. We affirm to abide by all the relevant laws regarding the harvest and trade of forest materials, as outlined in various international standards, including the EU Timber Regulation, the US Lacey Act, and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act.
- 1. Legal Rights to Harvest
- 1.1 Land ownership and management rights
- 1.2 Valid concession licenses
- 1.3 Approved management and harvesting plans
- 1.4 Legally issued harvesting permits
- 2. Taxes and Fees
- 2.1 Payment of taxes, royalties, and harvesting charges
- 2.2 Value-added and other applicable sales taxes
- 2.3 Income and profit tax obligations
- 3. Timber Harvesting Activities
- 3.1 Compliance with all harvesting regulations
- 3.2 Respect for protected sites and species
- 3.3 Fulfillment of environmental protection measures
- 3.4 Observance of health and safety standards
- 3.5 Employment in accordance with labor laws
- 4. Third-Party Rights
- 4.1 Recognition of customary and community rights
- 4.2 Observance of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
- 4.3 Respect for indigenous and traditional peoples’ rights
- 5. Trade and Transport
- 5.1 Accurate classification of species, grades, and quantities
- 5.2 Compliance with all trade and transport documentation
- 5.3 Transparency in offshore trading and transfer pricing
- 5.4 Adherence to customs regulations
- 5.5 Compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Furthermore, AtoZ Wood Company is committed to never sourcing wood material from a country subjected to timber trade sanctions by the UN Security Council or the EU Council, including any conflict-affected or disputed regions where sourcing of such timber may directly or indirectly contribute to the financing of war, human rights violations, breaches of humanitarian law, or crimes registered under international lawbh.
Supply Chain Management and Information
We are committed to maintaining a transparent and reliable supply chain by using verified information collected from our suppliers to enable precise risk evaluation and ensure transparent, responsible sourcing.
Risk Assessment and Alleviation
AtoZ Wood Company performs routine risk assessments across all its suppliers and sources to ensure we never trade with illegal sources. Should we identify any risk that is non-avoidable, we will immediately reject or cancel transactions to prevent exposure to the said risks.
Monitoring and Verification
We are constantly monitoring and reviewing the efficiency of our internal control systems and sourcing methods. If and when necessary, we might invite an independent third-party auditor to audit our systems, verify compliance, and validate the continued efficiency of our framework.
Environmental Commitment
AtoZ Wood Company recognizes and is committed to its responsibility to safeguard the natural ecosystem and conserve Earth’s resources, including forests. We are doing our bit to minimize the ecological impact of our operations, from indulging in and encouraging sustainable forestry practices to promoting optimal use of resources throughout our value chain.
Certification
AtoZ Wood Company has procured relevant timber certifications and only sources timber products that are certified under various international laws in forest management standards. Our certifications confirm that our raw materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests to maintain and retail ecological integrity.
Continuous Improvement
We are continually improving and advancing our sourcing practices, from integrating more stringent certification and verification standards to committing to 100% responsible sourcing. Over time, we aim to completely eliminate buying from unknown, illegal, high-risk, or environmentally unsustainable sources
Social Responsibility
AtoZ Wood Company abides by social responsibility laws in all its business operations. We strictly reject and never engage in:
- Any form of forced, bonded, or prison labor, including slavery, captivity, or human trafficking
- The use of child labor, i.e., employing children under 15 years old
- Discriminatory practices with staff based on race, color, gender, religion, language, background, political belief, caste, country, sexual orientation, health, age, financial status, or disability
- Unsafe, harmful, or hazardous working conditions, including health risks, exposure to fire, noise, accidents, or dangerous activities or substances
We require all our systems and partners to abide by these social responsibility and safety policies. Should any of our entities be found in violation of any of these principles, immediate and adequate corrective measures will be taken.
Review and Adaptation of this Policy
This policy, along with all relevant documents, is reviewed and updated regularly or as needed to maintain continued relevance, precision, and compliance with changing global timber harvesting standards and best practices.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
This policy is publicly available and accessible to all our partners, suppliers, stakeholders, and customers, and any changes are regularly communicated to ensure continued awareness, compliance, and adherence to AtoZ Wood Company’s responsible sourcing policy.
