Any product with a FSC® certification is certified as sustainably sourced. For non-FSC products we operate a due diligence procedure, checking legal documentation, social responsibility on behalf of the manufacturer or supplier, as well as the product supply chain. We often conduct a sign off procedure involving a site visit ending in final approval given by a Big K director.

We believe in building strong relationships with our suppliers, based on continuous communication. In terms of face-to-face meetings, we try to visit our suppliers at least once a year where possible. For the most part, we also try to visit the majority of our suppliers before a new contract is issued. Alternatively we will send a third party to audit the site if we are not able to do so ourselves.

Firstly, there are limited supplies of FSC® charcoal so we do not wish to unnecessarily deplete this resource. Secondly, we listen to our customers, and to be honest many do not want FSC® charcoal at this stage. What’s more, non-FSC certified charcoal can also be sustainable and legal providing the right product checks are conducted. Our due diligence process ensures that wider sustainability standards are met when it comes to these non-FSC products.

This all depends on the specific charcoal usage. For the supermarket-driven BBQ market, a cheaper charcoal made from more commercially viable wood sources is generally required to meet price expectations. As a result, these products will not always produce a long and hot burn. For restaurant grade or premium grade charcoal, the wood is key in determining the burn characteristics. Therefore chefs and customers alike will chose the charcoal that best meets their specific cooking needs. All charcoal we sell is hardwood.

Charcoal products are sourced from a number of different countries across the globe. The location depends on the local indigenous wood sources in each country as well as the type of charcoal these different woods can produce. Countries include Paraguay, Namibia, Spain, Indonesia and Ghana.

UK hardwood produces a charcoal that is much lighter than imported charcoal. This means that the charcoal is difficult to pack, as more is required per bag to meet our weight requirements for sale. In terms of performance, UK Charcoal also burns a lot quicker as it is not as dense as imported charcoal. Both of these factors make UK charcoal not as commercially viable as other options.

Although we do not currently sell a UK produced charcoal product, we are working on finding a sustainable supplier. Some customers have asked us about this, and it is part of our wider sustainability initiative.

The dense, slow growing hardwood trees of the Chaco provide high quality charcoal which burns hot and slowly with little smoke. The most sought after species is Quebracho blanco (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco) amongst the largest tree species in the region.

In this case, we believe that responsible sourcing is achieved by only using trees that are due to be cut down. Although there may be some suppliers that buy illegally sourced charcoal, our due diligence procedures ensure that that we do not engage with these suppliers in any way. The charcoal we source is government controlled, coming from land that is cleared for cattle rearing.

We continually seek out sustainable charcoal sources that can both be certified and handled responsibly by an intermediate supplier. For example, ethically sourced mesquite from Mexico is a viable alternative to Quebracho, as well as Marabu from Cuba. We are currently testing Apple Charcoal from the Ukraine as it has similar properties although a touch lighter.

We are constantly searching for sources of charcoal that compliment our bigger sustainable mission. For example, we are currently testing the qualities of Apple Charcoal from Eastern Europe. A big part of sustainable product development involves working closely with our long-term suppliers to both refine existing products and identify new areas of exploration. A good example is in Ghana, where we make heatlogs out of waste sawdust from the furniture market. This also helps the local community with employment.

We would avoid those countries that could not prove the sustainable origins of the charcoal. Or any countries that are experiencing political or civil unrest or identified corruption in the industry.

The FSC chain of custody certification ensures this for all FSC charcoal For non-FSC products we operate a due diligence procedure, checking legal documentation, social responsibility on behalf of the manufacturer or supplier, as well as the product supply chain. We often conduct a sign off procedure involving a site visit ending in final approval given by a Big K director.

The charcoal we supply to restaurants is typically from suppliers that are not FSC certified. However, this does not mean that it is from illegal or unethical sources.  There are lots of small suppliers that cannot afford to become FSC registered but still abide by social, environmental and legal laws. Big K conducts thorough checks on these non-FSC suppliers.  There are also other certificates available such as PEFC, Fairtrade or Forest Trust.

We have recently introduced an FSC certified restaurant grade charcoal RCH12FSC.