Maersk opts for responsible flooring

“Illegal logging is widely recognised as a serious threat to forests, people and wildlife. We feel obligated to use our purchasing power to push for higher standards and ensure that the timber we use for container floors come from responsible forestry,” says Jacob Sterling, Head of Climate & Environment, Maersk Line.

Traditionally, shipping lines have had their containers fitted with tropical hardwood floors. It takes two cu m of hardwood to produce floors for three 40 foot containers. The container industry uses approximately 1.2-1.5m cu m of hardwood annually to meet demand for new containers.

As a result of the new policy, all new Maersk Line containers will now have floors made of timber from sources employing responsible forestry practices or non-wood alternatives such as bamboo and recycled plastic. Any tropical hardwood used will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). As an interim solution applicable only in 2011, tropical hardwood verified as legally compliant will be accepted while other floor types are scaled up in production.