Responsible Purchasing

In October 2008, AHEC launched a Responsible Purchasing Policy for Exporters (RPP) to provide a further assurance that U.S. hardwoods exported by AHEC members derive from legal and sustainable sources. The RPP may be voluntarily adopted by AHEC Members and is designed specifically to: a) respond to the recommendations of the AHEC-commissioned Seneca Creek risk assessment study; and b) the requirements of the Japanese government procurement policy which accepts codes of conduct/procurement policies as suitable evidence of conformance.

The RPP requires signatory companies to respond directly to any risks identified in the Seneca Creek study, or that might be identified in future studies, and to promote legal and sustainable forestry practices. It requires active engagement by signatory companies in various national and state level programmes designed to eradicate illegal logging and promote sustainable forest practices. It requires signatory companies to progressively improve wood tracking systems so that more specific information on the precise forest of origin of their hardwoods can be made available to customers. The policy is backed by a complaints procedure.

The RPP is the first step in a process of progressive development of systems and procedures designed to ensure that American hardwoods continue to be accepted in the market place over the long term as conformant to the highest sustainability standards.