Principles of the label

Products carrying the label help to deliver benefits including some or all of the following:

• Economic
• Creating value in the local economy – adding value to a local natural resource which is retained in the local economy
• Wise use of a natural resource - Scotland’s woodlands can produce large amounts of these products, which can be harvested without damage to the environment.  The natural qualities of these materials - beauty, durability and tastiness(!) - make them suitable for many different uses, although they have been largely ignored in recent times.

• Environmental
• Biodiversity - encouraging interest in (and economic viability of) growing and managing native broadleaved woodlands which have a very high biodiversity value
• Cutting greenhouse gas emissions - reducing reliance on imports and long-distance transport
• Reducing waste – much locally produced hardwood timber would otherwise go to landfill sites.

• Social
• Providing local employment – providing jobs in processing and manufacturing and supports jobs in forestry
• Amenity – supporting the management of woodlands that provide landscape amenity and wonderful places for walking and recreation. 
• Socio-cultural sustainability – traditional knowledge is often associated with woodland products and by investing in these products that knowledge is maintained and strengthened in society. Similarly many woodland products are sourced from within remote, sometimes small, rural communities and therefore their sale helps to maintain these communities.