100% SUSTAINABLE TIMBER MARKETS: THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS CASE

The report argues that sustainable timber markets are essential for preserving global economic activity and securing the long-term supply of raw materials for UK businesses. It highlights that forests contribute approximately US$17.6 trillion to the global economy, with timber and paper making up 16% of international soft commodity trade. The document warns that legal and sustainable timber supplies from several key source countries are at risk of depletion, while global demand is rising due to expanding Asian economies and the biomass energy industry. For UK businesses, the report identifies commercial benefits including regulatory advantages under the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), easier access to finance, enhanced brand value, and improved workforce engagement. It also examines the UK domestic timber industry, noting that while it contributes ~£21.0 billion in GVA, domestic softwood supply is threatened by a long-term decline in new planting.

• Forests and timber provide immense global economic value through ecosystem services, estimated at US$17.6 trillion, which is roughly 21% of global GDP and comparable to the global financial services sector.
• Timber and paper represent the largest internationally-traded soft commodity by value, accounting for over 16% of the total value of soft commodity markets, exceeding US$250 billion in 2013.
• Legal and sustainable timber supplies for the UK are at risk of depletion in several source countries, with some countries already in a deficit where forest use since 1990 exceeds the area designated for production.
• Significant primary forest loss occurred between 1990 and 2015 in key supply countries, with Nigeria losing nearly 99% and Vietnam losing almost 80% of their primary forest cover.
• Global demand for timber is increasing, driven largely by the biomass energy industry and timber deficits in expanding Asian economies, specifically China, which had a deficit of nearly 200 million m3 in 2015.
• Adopting sustainable sourcing provides UK businesses with competitive advantages, including better alignment with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and improved access to capital as financial institutions increasingly prioritize deforestation-free supply chains.
• Sustainable procurement can enhance a company's brand value and workforce engagement; high workforce engagement is associated with nearly double the total shareholder returns (22% vs 12%).
• The UK domestic timber industry generated approximately £21.0 billion in gross value added (GVA) in 2013/14, representing about 1% of UK GDP.
• Domestic softwood supply in the UK is facing a long-term threat due to a one-third decline in new planting since the 1970s, which may reduce the proportion of domestic timber in the supply chain to ~22% by 2050.

APA

Dean, C. (2016). 100% SUSTAINABLE TIMBER MARKETS: THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS CASE. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/888/86piubwlby_Business_and_economic_case_report.pdf

Chicago

Dean, Charles. 100% SUSTAINABLE TIMBER MARKETS: THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS CASE. WWF International, 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/888/86piubwlby_Business_and_economic_case_report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dean |first1=Charles |title=100% SUSTAINABLE TIMBER MARKETS: THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS CASE |publisher=WWF International |date=July 2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/888/86piubwlby_Business_and_economic_case_report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dean2016100, author = {Dean, Charles}, title = {{100\% SUSTAINABLE TIMBER MARKETS: THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS CASE}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, month = jul, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/888/86piubwlby_Business_and_economic_case_report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }