With more than three quarters of all timber sold in 2009 originating from responsibly-managed forests, Kingfisher, the third largest home improvement retail group in the world, has exceeded its target to source 75 percent of its timber products from sustainable sources by 2010-11, a year ahead of schedule.

According to Kingfisher's 2010 Corporate Responsibility report, sales of PEFC-certified material grew last year and now account for a total of 27% of all timber sold by the company.

Kingfisher is a founder member of the Timber Retail Coalition established, with other leading international retailers, to support EU regulation to stamp out the import of illegal timber. It has also signed up to the Prince's Rainforest Project which aims to halt tropical deforestation, and participated in the Forest Footprint Disclosure (FFD) Project - a new initiative backed by 35 financial institutions to help investors identify the impact companies have on forests and how they can reduce it.

Certified material sold by Kingfisher, which includes companies such as B&Q, Castorama and Brico Dépôt, has increased from 68% in 2006-7 to 77% in 2009-10. Kingfisher is now working with the Forum for the Future to develop new targets in 2010.

"We congratulate Kingfisher on this impressive achievement and its comprehensive and inclusive approach to promoting the responsible management of the world's forests", said PEFC UK's Chairman, Peter Latham. "We urge consumers buying timber products to choose certified in order to recognise and support those companies with responsible sourcing policies."