New organisation CTI presents to packaging and pallet industry
TIMCON
| Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON)
The interim head of the Timber Trades Federation was invited to attend the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON)s annual general meeting to present to its members the new Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI), following a members questions being raised at a general meeting earlier in the year
At the event, held in Manchester in May, David Lennan explained to the sector that the pan-industry organisation will be looking to represent the shared interests of wood sectors the length of the supply chain, but at the same time acknowledging that the associations currently governing each industry will continue to have autonomy to manage their own particular issues.
Lennan said the CTI would be a “joined up organisation…that is all about creating and stimulating growth”. Representing the common needs and goals of the UK’s forest-based industries, he said, would help strengthen their position against materials such as steel, cement, glass and plastics, which, as the result of large promotional budgets have taken share from timber products. He said people were starting to understand the sustainability message, adding that wood is the “only truly environmentally friendly and sustainable product on the planet.”
In his welcome address to the meeting, TIMCON President John Dye said: “David has visited production facilities and we have explained to him the critical place of wooden pallets and packaging in a sustainable forest supply chain, not least the fact that the industry purchases more than 25 per cent of home grown sawn timber.
“We have assured David that TIMCON will continue to support initiatives such as the Timber Accord, Grown in Britain and Wood for Good, and to play a part in building greater cooperation between the industry associations representing the forest based industries.
“However, alongside this collaboration it remains crucial that the associations representing the various timber industries address the specific and often complex
issues affecting each sector. TIMCON will continue to do so, on behalf of the pallet and packaging sector.”
The CTI will launch on June 10th, when its CEO will be announced, along with details of its brand, concept, ideals, plans to get timber higher on the political agenda.
Delegates at the Manchester meeting also listened to updates on TIMCON’s recent activities. These have included liaison with the Health Safety Executive (HSE) to contribute to documents such as the revised Guidance Note PM15 (fourth edition) on pallet safety, the Advisory Council on ISPM 15 and organising the FEFPEB Congress, which takes place in Cork, Ireland, on October 28th to 30th this year.
