Success in many fields

This agreement is a good example for a successful voluntary code of practice that is based on the consensus of key stakeholders and backed by important players in the political arena, such as the involved NGOs. This is consistent with the policy of the Swiss Government which is committed to increase the sustainability and transparency of timber production and trade and to address the issues of illegal logging and trade. To achieve these goals, the Government promotes coordinated multilateral approaches (ITTO, FLEGT) and an open trade from sustainably managed sources.

Win Win Win Situation

From the point of view of the door industry, the agreement and the self-commitment to the agreed standards is seen as an opportunity on a market on which:
- Consumer awareness of environmental issues is high and still growing,
- Public bodies increasingly apply voluntary standards (public procurement), and
- FSC and other labels for environmentally friendly produced goods are increasingly used.

Awards

In October 2005, the Federation of the Swiss door industry won the prestigious "Swiss Award for Business Ethics" of the TQM-Forum, outdoing well-known Swiss companies with their projects.

Pattern for new silmilar voluntary codes of practices

Thus, there are encouraging signs that the agreement between the door industry, Greenpeace and WWF Switzerland has triggered a positive dynamic which will lead to the development of further such voluntary, broadly based codes of practice. This will eventually contribute to reduce the trade and use of illegal timber and promote sustainable forest management in tropical and other forests alike.