Sustainable wood? How Malaysia's tainted timber could be reaching the UK

Deforestation in Malaysian from above. Muddy paths cris-cross forest showing not much green left.

What if you found out that the wood in your home might have forced Indigenous people from their lands and destroyed the last remaining habitats of endangered animals?

Our new investigation, Tainted timber, published with our partners Malaysia-based RimbaWatch, and Earthsight, reveals the grim truth behind the Malaysian timber trade:

Wood linked to deforestation, human rights violations and habitat destruction is being labelled and sold as "sustainable.”
UK companies may be importing and selling this wood to unsuspecting customers.

We’re calling on the government to launch an urgent investigation into Malaysian timber entering the UK – to make sure it’s not fuelling deforestation or harm to communities.

And we need a new law to make sure UK companies protect people and wildlife in their global supply chains.

Tell the government: stop tainted timber destroying forests, homes and wildlife

Take action

A close-up of an Indigenous Malay man in the forest.

How are Indigenous communities at risk?

“This one tree used to have about 90, 100 hives. Now the hives are around 40 or 50 maximum. That’s why we have to preserve the forest.” – Nizam, a traditional honey-gatherer. Nizam faces an end to his way of life as biodiversity loss kills off the bees.

Logging is having a devastating impact on Indigenous communities, taking away their livelihoods and forcing them from their lands.

How is wildlife threatened by logging in Malaysia?

The Malayan tiger is a national symbol of Malaysia and classified as Totally Protected under Malaysian law. But the tiger is being pushed toward extinction – with fewer than 150 left – as logging destroys the forest habitats these critically endangered animals need to survive.

Satellite analysis shows that within certified forests, tens of thousands of hectares of tree cover has been lost, destroying critical tiger habitat. And they’re not the only wildlife at risk, with Asian elephants, tapirs and leopards and many other species all threatened.

Mapping Indigenous rights and environmental violations

Hover over the highlighted regions on the map to find out how people and wildlife are being impacted by "sustainable" logging in Peninsular Malaysia.

Our report sets out how the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) has repeatedly failed to protect the rights of Indigenous communities and prevent harm to nature and wildlife.

Indigenous communities

The Indigenous Orang Asli people of Malaysia have lived in traditional territories for many generations, and their lives are intimately connected to their forest homes.

The certification scheme is ignoring their land rights and allowing timber to be taken from their traditional territories, destroying their way of life.

Logging has polluted their water sources and taken away traditional food gathering areas, forcing them from their lands.

Nature and wildlife

Malaysia’s certified forests include ecosystems of exceptional biodiversity. From tiger habitat to peat swamp and UNESCO landscapes, certification has failed to protect these habitats, which are critical for Indigenous peoples, wildlife and climate regulation.

These repeated failures to recognise and protect the territorial rights of Indigenous Orang Asli communities and prevent ecological loss in globally important forests prove the certification of Malaysian timber as "sustainable" is fundamentally broken.

Arial image showing deforestation in Malaysia.

How is the UK driving deforestation abroad?

The UK is the 5th largest importer of certified Malaysian timber globally. This makes us one of the main markets bringing in wooden materials like plywood, builders' joinery supplies and doors.

UK companies, including major retailers and trade suppliers, are sourcing from Malaysia, relying on certification as a key tool to assure them the timber is responsibly sourced. But our investigation reveals the failings of timber certification, raising questions over whether their timber is in fact truly free from harm to people and the environment. There’s a real risk this timber is entering the UK.

Malaysian people stand by logs in a part of the forest that has been cleared. There are a couple of mopeds there too.

Our report

Our report sets out the serious failings around timber certification in Malaysia and gives clear recommendations for the UK government and timber industry to help put a stop to this scandal once and for all.

Read our report

What can the UK government do to stop the scandal of tainted timber?

We need the government to urgently investigate Malaysian timber imports to make sure UK markets are not fuelling deforestation, habitat loss and displacement of Indigenous people.

And we want the government to pass a new law to ensure UK companies prevent harm to communities and the environment in their global supply chains. This stronger regulation would mean no one has to second-guess whether the products they buy are causing harm in the UK or abroad. And it would provide communities with a route to justice through UK courts if harm does occur.