What is “conflict timber” and what’s the alternative? In response to the invasion of Ukraine, over 30 countries have placed sanctions on Russian birch. Garnica has got the alternative you’ve been looking for – maple faced combi core plywood.
Russian birch has long been a favourite in the US, the EU and around the world. The material is a globally popular choice of plywood, used to decorate floors and ceilings as well as doors and cabinets. As you can see in the tables below, hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of birch plywood have historically been imported from Russia to the US, according to the USDA foreign agricultural service. And EUROSTAT data shows that Russia and Belarus were two of the main suppliers of plywood - principally birch plywood - to the EU. Indeed, in recent years, over a million cubic metres of the wood have been imported from the two countries into the European block.
Since the conflict in Ukraine, however, over 30 countries have placed sanctions on Russian and Belarussian birch. The European Union, as well as countries like the UK, Norway and Switzerland, have banned all timber imports from the two countries and the United States has stripped Russia of its most-favoured nation status, raising tariffs on Russian birch plywood to 50%.
At the same time, the international timber certification bodies FSC and PEFC have declared timber originating from Russia, Belarus and conflict areas of Ukraine to be “conflict timber,” and suspended their certifications for the duration of the conflict.
So what does this mean for your construction projects? Most likely, you’ll need to start thinking about an alternative. And fortunately, we’ve got the solution – Garnica Reinforced Globulus Maple.
Reinforced Globulus Maple: an alternative to “conflict timber”
Durable, strong and beautiful, birch has been your favourite for a reason. But you’ll be pleased to hear it’s not the only wood species boasting these credentials. Reinforced Globulus Maple rivals all of birch’s benefits.
- Stylish: Resembling birch in terms of colour and grain, maple is reputed for its subtle and consistent grain pattern – featuring the occasional swirl – which creates beautifully elegant interiors. The maple faces have been finished to create a smooth and uniform surface, meaning you won’t need to process it in any way. It’s quite simply ready to use.
- Sustainable and with a reliable supply: Maple is of unquestionable origin as it is sourced 100% from North East America, both USA and Canada. The wood originating from these areas promises a stable and reliable supply with no volume restriction. Garnica has selected the Hard Maple (Acer Saccharum) species, which is also known as the Sugar Maple, as maple syrup is obtained from the species. The tree is a common sight in the US and Canada, and is even featured in the latter’s flag.
- Strong combi core: As its name suggests, the Reinforced range is all about strength and resistance. Featuring a poplar and eucalyptus globulus combi core that boasts superior mechanical characteristics of eucalyptus globulus and is sourced from fast-growing EU plantations, this plywood line boasts strength that challenges physics. When used in your construction projects, this translates into a finished piece that is long-wearing and capable of holding great weight. Its multi-ply composition is the ideal selection for exposed edges in artistic furniture and fixtures. It’s also stable and easy to machine, making it a pleasure to work with.
So don’t let the sanctions on Russian birch throw you into a head spin. Simply replace it with Garnica maple and let the benefits speak for themselves. Discover everything you need to know about Reinforced Globulus Maple and fill in the form at the bottom of the page to get in touch with our sales team.
