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| Is UK barbecue charcoal fuelling global deforestation? | Is UK barbecue charcoal fuelling global deforestation? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A growing taste for al fresco dining is driving record charcoal sales in the UK but is it also fuelling global deforestation and climate change? | A growing taste for al fresco dining is driving record charcoal sales in the UK but is it also fuelling global deforestation and climate change? |
| Last year Britain imported nearly 90,000 tonnes of charcoal. | Last year Britain imported nearly 90,000 tonnes of charcoal. |
| It's much cheaper than sourcing it from within the UK but where is it coming from and at what cost to the environment? | It's much cheaper than sourcing it from within the UK but where is it coming from and at what cost to the environment? |
| The BBC took a random selection of charcoal bags from supermarkets and shops to be tested. | The BBC took a random selection of charcoal bags from supermarkets and shops to be tested. |
| The testing was carried out at a specialist laboratory by experts in Hamburg, Germany. | The testing was carried out at a specialist laboratory by experts in Hamburg, Germany. |
| Volker Haag is a scientist at Thünen-Institut of Wood Research. He carried out the independent tests to ascertain exactly which species were in the bags. | Volker Haag is a scientist at Thünen-Institut of Wood Research. He carried out the independent tests to ascertain exactly which species were in the bags. |
| Mr Haag told us: "Within the investigation of the four assortments that you brought to us, we found mixture of timbers which naturally originate in tropical and sub-tropical areas. | Mr Haag told us: "Within the investigation of the four assortments that you brought to us, we found mixture of timbers which naturally originate in tropical and sub-tropical areas. |
| "For example, we discovered Eucalypt which we find in Australia, also Fabaceae and Acacia, which could be from South America, from Asia or from Africa." | "For example, we discovered Eucalypt which we find in Australia, also Fabaceae and Acacia, which could be from South America, from Asia or from Africa." |
| Forests in tropical and sub-tropical regions are home to many endangered species which need to be protected for the health of the embattled planet and the fight against climate change. | Forests in tropical and sub-tropical regions are home to many endangered species which need to be protected for the health of the embattled planet and the fight against climate change. |
| How the tests were carried out: | |
| Whilst it is not illegal to source charcoal from tropical forests, most retailers do claim their supply chains originate in sustainable woodlands. | Whilst it is not illegal to source charcoal from tropical forests, most retailers do claim their supply chains originate in sustainable woodlands. |
| The majority of the bags, though, have no information about the country of origin, let alone specific forests. But most do carry the FSC logo. | The majority of the bags, though, have no information about the country of origin, let alone specific forests. But most do carry the FSC logo. |
| The Forest Stewardship Council is the world's biggest certification scheme of wood products. | The Forest Stewardship Council is the world's biggest certification scheme of wood products. |
| Its stamp should be an assurance that the charcoal is sourced from well-managed forests but the head of the organisation Kim Carstensen, told us mistakes have been made. | Its stamp should be an assurance that the charcoal is sourced from well-managed forests but the head of the organisation Kim Carstensen, told us mistakes have been made. |
| "I am sure there has been tropical charcoal coming into the UK market. I am sure most of these would have been without the FSC logo but I cannot guarantee that there hasn't been any problem with some of the FSC certified materials. | "I am sure there has been tropical charcoal coming into the UK market. I am sure most of these would have been without the FSC logo but I cannot guarantee that there hasn't been any problem with some of the FSC certified materials. |
| "Since last year, we have been looking into the charcoal business as a high risk area. We have found charcoal where we were uncertain about where it came from. We thought 'hmmm, this looks different from what we had expected'." | "Since last year, we have been looking into the charcoal business as a high risk area. We have found charcoal where we were uncertain about where it came from. We thought 'hmmm, this looks different from what we had expected'." |
| Mr Carstensen said that the charcoal business is considered "high risk". | Mr Carstensen said that the charcoal business is considered "high risk". |
| The supply chains are complex and, as a result, in the last year, the FSC has retracted certificates from 21 companies which were found to be selling unsustainable products. | The supply chains are complex and, as a result, in the last year, the FSC has retracted certificates from 21 companies which were found to be selling unsustainable products. |
| The FSC has more than 200 million hectares of forests, across the globe as what it calls certified forests but not all of them are mapped. | The FSC has more than 200 million hectares of forests, across the globe as what it calls certified forests but not all of them are mapped. |
| According to UN figures, the UK imported nearly 90,000 tonnes of charcoal last year, up from around 70,000 tonnes in 2016. | According to UN figures, the UK imported nearly 90,000 tonnes of charcoal last year, up from around 70,000 tonnes in 2016. |
| The charcoal came from different places, including Nigeria and Paraguay where deforestation is a major issue. | The charcoal came from different places, including Nigeria and Paraguay where deforestation is a major issue. |
| Last year, the two countries supplied 10,000 tonnes of charcoal each to the UK. | Last year, the two countries supplied 10,000 tonnes of charcoal each to the UK. |
| Conservationists in Nigeria, which has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, are quite worried. | Conservationists in Nigeria, which has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, are quite worried. |
| "Deforestation in the country is alarming and disheartening for some of us who work in the conservation sector," says Stephen Aina, a conservation officer with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. | "Deforestation in the country is alarming and disheartening for some of us who work in the conservation sector," says Stephen Aina, a conservation officer with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. |
| "Due to the proximity to the Lagos port, forests in Oyo State and in areas sharing a boundary with Benin Republic have been largely destroyed. | "Due to the proximity to the Lagos port, forests in Oyo State and in areas sharing a boundary with Benin Republic have been largely destroyed. |
| "Kwara State is now one of the major hotspots of charcoal production in the country." | "Kwara State is now one of the major hotspots of charcoal production in the country." |
| Greenpeace International recently disassociated itself from the FSC, asking the organisation "to act with urgency to improve the transparency". | Greenpeace International recently disassociated itself from the FSC, asking the organisation "to act with urgency to improve the transparency". |
| The FSC's Kim Carstensen said mixing of the wood from different locations by suppliers was a major challenge in terms of providing information on the source. | The FSC's Kim Carstensen said mixing of the wood from different locations by suppliers was a major challenge in terms of providing information on the source. |
| He said "It's more complicated. Once it gets mixed, you cannot say it is from one place, it will be from several places … then what is the information you are going to get (from the label)?" | He said "It's more complicated. Once it gets mixed, you cannot say it is from one place, it will be from several places … then what is the information you are going to get (from the label)?" |
| Studies have shown that the mixing up of charcoal by suppliers is a major threat to tropical forests. | Studies have shown that the mixing up of charcoal by suppliers is a major threat to tropical forests. |
| Research by WWF Germany has found Poland imports charcoal from risk-prone countries, particularly from Ukraine and Nigeria - which are then repackaged before being sent to Germany. | Research by WWF Germany has found Poland imports charcoal from risk-prone countries, particularly from Ukraine and Nigeria - which are then repackaged before being sent to Germany. |
| Poland is also one of the main suppliers to the UK. | Poland is also one of the main suppliers to the UK. |
| "In the whole of Europe I would say the risk is really high," says Johannes Zahnen of WWF, Germany. | "In the whole of Europe I would say the risk is really high," says Johannes Zahnen of WWF, Germany. |
| "The (source) countries we are talking about like Paraguay and Nigeria and also Ukraine - all you can think of, it's corruption, illegal logging, destructive logging, forest destruction," he says. | "The (source) countries we are talking about like Paraguay and Nigeria and also Ukraine - all you can think of, it's corruption, illegal logging, destructive logging, forest destruction," he says. |
| "And it's definitely not sustainable what is happening there. And if you are buying from there, it's a high risk, that you are linked to these criminal things and to this really destructive thing." | "And it's definitely not sustainable what is happening there. And if you are buying from there, it's a high risk, that you are linked to these criminal things and to this really destructive thing." |
| The global deforestation picture | The global deforestation picture |
| About half the wood extracted worldwide from forests is used to produce energy, mostly for cooking and heating, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. | About half the wood extracted worldwide from forests is used to produce energy, mostly for cooking and heating, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. |
| Of all the wood used as fuel worldwide, about 17 % is converted to charcoal. | Of all the wood used as fuel worldwide, about 17 % is converted to charcoal. |
| The UN body expects global charcoal production to continue to increase in coming decades. | The UN body expects global charcoal production to continue to increase in coming decades. |
| Suppliers and supermarkets | Suppliers and supermarkets |
| Marks and Spencer | Marks and Spencer |
| • At M&S, we have a comprehensive sustainable wood policy. | • At M&S, we have a comprehensive sustainable wood policy. |
| • We work with the FSC | • We work with the FSC |
| • We are aware where the product is sourced from, but it's commercially sensitive information and therefore not something we can share. | • We are aware where the product is sourced from, but it's commercially sensitive information and therefore not something we can share. |
| Big K (supplies Marks and Spencer and local petrol stations across the country) | Big K (supplies Marks and Spencer and local petrol stations across the country) |
| • Big K places huge importance on the sourcing of all our charcoal products. | • Big K places huge importance on the sourcing of all our charcoal products. |
| • Since 1999, we have been a certified supplier of FSC goods. | • Since 1999, we have been a certified supplier of FSC goods. |
| • In addition, we also conduct our own due diligence on the products we supply. | • In addition, we also conduct our own due diligence on the products we supply. |
| CO-OP | CO-OP |
| • Co-op packaging now states that the product is produced and packed in Namibia. | • Co-op packaging now states that the product is produced and packed in Namibia. |
| • Our product is made from Acacia which is an invasive bush species. | • Our product is made from Acacia which is an invasive bush species. |
| • All Co-op Fair Trade charcoal is from one of four agricultural farms in Namibia. | • All Co-op Fair Trade charcoal is from one of four agricultural farms in Namibia. |
| • The pack also carries the FSC mark | • The pack also carries the FSC mark |
| Tesco sells both "FSC certified" and non-certified brands. | Tesco sells both "FSC certified" and non-certified brands. |
| • It has not as yet responded to our request. | • It has not as yet responded to our request. |
| Fuel express (supplies Tesco) | Fuel express (supplies Tesco) |
| • It has not as yet responded to our request | • It has not as yet responded to our request |