PEFC field trip shows sustainable forest management to textiles professionals

8 April 2024 Forests for Fashion

We invited fashion brands and retailers to PEFC-certified Swinley Forest near London, to see sustainable forest management in practice and discover its positive impacts on biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and forest regeneration.

Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) have their origins in the forest and can play a key role in the fashion sector’s transformation towards more sustainability. Yet, it all starts with responsible material choices.

The field trip offered a firsthand look at sustainable forest management on the ground, and how it ensures the well-being of the forest and the life in it.

Maintaining, conserving and enhancing biodiversity

Participants witnessed how biodiversity is maintained in PEFC-certified forests, and which practices are implemented to enhance it.

Biodiversity in Swinley Forest thrives thanks to ecological water management. Instead of traditional ditches, ponds were created, and the water flow through the forest was slowed down.

These practices create habitats for a wide range of aquatic life and encourage the presence of diverse animal species.

Fostering young grasslands and heather provides space for ground-nesting birds and resources for bees and butterflies. Interconnected pathways through the forest ensure the longevity of diverse habitats and support wildlife movement.

Resilience, diversity and minimal use of chemicals

Other forestry practices support the forest’s resilience in a warmer climate and promote diversity and sustainability within it.

In light of changing climatic conditions, careful consideration is given to the selection of tree species in the PEFC-certified forest.

Choosing those that are best suited to warmer and more variable climates helps ensure the forest’s long-term health.

Maintaining different age classes and species of trees creates diverse habitats, while controlling invasive species protects tree diversity.

In a PEFC-certified forest, inappropriate use of chemicals and other harmful substances shall be avoided. The use of the most hazardous chemicals, as defined by the WHO, is prohibited. This approach encourages the growth of heather, various types of flowers, and small grasses, contributing to a more balanced ecosystem within the forest.

PEFC, MMCF and a sustainable fashion sector

Beside a tour through the forest, the fieldtrip included a workshop to discuss possible solutions regarding the traceability of MMCF.

Responsible sourcing strategies are vital to address environmental and social risks, and brands are increasingly incorporating PEFC certification into their sustainability strategies for the sourcing of forest-based materials.

For more information about our work with the textiles sector or to work with us, contact us at textile@pefc.org.

Photo credits: Credits Paul Ridley, PEFC UK