Timber Credit Review

Background

Undertaking a revision of the Green Star Mat-8 'Sustainable Timber' credit reflects the GBCA's commitment to continuous improvement and increased transparency.
The acceptance of one specific timber certification scheme (FSC) has, in the past, raised concerns from some sectors about perceived prescriptiveness and exclusivity. The credit revision process aims to develop a revised credit that addresses these concerns.

The proposal

The intent of the credit review is to establish a methodology, based on environmental best-practice principles and criteria, by which timber certification schemes might be assessed in a transparent and equitable manner.

The process

The process of this revision will follow the established Green Star Stakeholder Engagement Process. Please see the 'Process updates' and 'Latest update' sections below for a historical record and an up to date account of the progress status of the project.

View the Green Star Stakeholder Engagement Process

Process updates

In this section you can find Mat-8 'Sustainable Timber' credit revision materials as they become available:

Project Timeline - Mat-8 Credit Revision

Timber Expert Reference Panel (TERP) Participants List

TERP Frequently Asked Questions

Timber Expert Reference Panel nominations

Conclusions of Stakeholder Comment Period and Next Steps

Summary of written feedback

Workshop 1 Industry summary

Workshop 1 Industry transcript

Workshop 2 NGO's summary

Workshop 2 NGO's transcript

Workshop 3 Government summary

Workshop 3 Government transcript

Latest update

12th November 2008 - GBCA Board updated on status of credit revision process.

31st October 2008 - Second TERP meeting held in Melbourne

17th October 2008- Briefing document for the second TERP meeting distributed to the TERP.

26th September 2008 - First TERP meeting held in Melbourne; recommendations on content for revision of the credit communicated to the GBCA for further development; additional TERP meeting scheduled for late October or early November.

Week 15th September 2008 - Meeting agenda and briefing documents distributed to TERP. Meeting held with industry bodies including NAFI, VAFI, TCA, A3P and CFMEU to discuss TERP process and progress and composition of TERP.

1st September 2008 - First TERP meeting (26th September in Melbourne) confirmed with participants.

22nd August 2008- Invitations and Terms of Reference documents issued to participants of expanded TERP, along with Confidentiality Agreements.

14th August 2008 - GBCA Board approves revised Expert Reference Panel nomination and selection process and expansion of the TERP to reflect revised composition.

16th June - 4th August 2008 - Revision of the nomination and selection processes for Expert Reference Panel (ERP) Participants undertaken by GBCA to ensure that ERPs are representative of the GBCA's membership and of the green building supply chain without reinforcing any single stakeholder's interests; proposal made to GBCA Board to approve revisions to the process and to consider expansion of the TERP.

12th June 2008 - Summary of Timber credit review process distributed to stakeholders including Industry Reference Group and TERP participants.

23rd May 2008 - Leading TERP nominees invited to participate in the panel.

30th April 2008 - Nomination period for TERP ends; GBCA begins collation and assessment of nominations.

18th March 2008 - Nominations invited from stakeholders to form Timber Expert Reference Panel (TERP); Panel proposed to meet in July to examine and make recommendations on stakeholder feedback and issues of concern.

29th February 2008 - Public consultation period ends; GBCA begins collation of responses and assessment of feedback received.

Late February 2008 - Three stakeholder workshops held in Sydney to consult with timber producers and suppliers, NGOs, certification bodies and Government.

14th January 2008 - Public comment period extended to end of February to accommodate stakeholders' requests for additional time to provide feedback.

20th December 2007 - Launch of credit revision process; proposed revised credit criteria issued for 30 day public comment period.