Washington D.C. and Geneva, 3 April, 2008 – Corporate managers will now get powerful help with today's release of a “Guide to the Guides” ( 1.8 MB) – a toolbox that helps them understand and find the best advice on how to purchase products originating from the world's forests.

Countless resources have been developed to help businesses sustainably procure forest-based products such as construction materials and paper. This proliferation is confusing many buyers. Now a representative number of these resources have been referenced in an easy-to-use toolbox – which includes a full report detailing the top 10 questions that corporate managers should ask when purchasing forest-based products and references to resources for help, a shorter overview report ( 498 kb), and a website with a spreadsheet tool – released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI).

“Finding credible purchasing information around the complexity of the issues – including forestry, climate change, energy and manufacturing – has always been a maze,” said David J. Refkin, director of sustainable development at Time Inc., who participated in a launch event here today at the National Press Club. “This is a virtual Rolodex of the issues and resources out there.”

This Guide to the Guides will help sustainability managers define and implement purchasing policies for the entire range of forest-based products, from wood products like construction materials and furniture to paper products like packaging, tissue paper and countless other products.