Of all countries around the world, the principle of sustainable forestry is most well established in Germany. This concept was developed more than 300 years ago and, since then, has been seen as a guiding principle for German forest management. In Germany sustainability is mandatory as per the Federal Forest Act (Bundeswaldgesetz) and anchored in Section 11 of this Act.
All of Pollmeier's products come from sustainable forestry; all the timber is felled legally and is subject to state controls. This is the most important basis for proof of legality within the framework of the various international laws such as the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), the Lacey Act in the USA and the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act.
In addition to the statutory requirements, there are further (forest) certification systems such as PEFC™, MTTC, SFI and FSC® which guarantee consumers a range of minimum standards with respect to sustainability and other criteria. However, with these certification systems the standard stipulated by the relevant organisation is certified, and not the statutory framework conditions. Depending on the legislation, certification can be seen as an important reference point for legality, yet is not automatically proof of legality.
We have also made a commitment to continually improve upon our energy efficiency. For this purpose, we have introduced a company-wide energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001, which is certified by independent auditors on an annual basis. In times of alternative energies and climate change, it makes perfect sense for us to exercise this social and environmental responsibility. We have managed to reduce our power consumption (per product produced) annually by 3 to 7%. What's more, the thermal energy required in the wood-drying process and in the factory halls and office areas is generated entirely from the energy recovery of waste products such as sanding dust – CO2-neutral and environmentally friendly.