Driving environmental certification: its impact on the furniture and timber products value chain in South Africa

Published Date
March 2004, Vol.35(2):251–266, doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2003.09.006
Themed Section on: Differentiation in South Africa and Indian Cities

Author 

Mike Morris ^,

Nikki Dunne 

School of Development Studies, University of Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa

Received 18 March 2003. Revised 19 August 2003. Available online 19 November 2003. 

Abstract

In this new globalised era there is an increasing demand in the developed world for environmental certification (Forestry Stewardship Council) of furniture and timber products. The imposition of this requirement has major implications for producers in developing countries. This paper examines this issue from a value chain perspective, exploring how certification requirements are driven through the links of the global furniture value chain. It does so by focusing on the dynamic underlying the spread of FSC certification through the furniture and timber industry in South Africa, and investigates the role of the various organisational ‘drivers’ of the system. In doing so it explores how developing country firms relate to these opportunities and pressures, drawing out the logistical implications, the costs and benefits, as well as the future for FSC certification. It concludes with a discussion of the role of buyers, agents, certification agencies and manufacturers in driving FSC certification through the wood products value chain in South Africa.

Keywords

Furniture

Value chains

FSC certification

Lead firm drivers

Environmental concerns

South Africa

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  The research on which this paper is based was undertaken on behalf of, and funded by, the UK-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), as part of its multi-country study on Sustainable Private Sector Forestry. The views expressed in this report are solely those of the authors.

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  Corresponding author

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