The Dorset Charcoal Company is producing sustainable British charcoal; thereby ensuring the good management of local woodlands by finding a use for lower value wood, such as thinnings or misshapen waste, and encouraging the restoration of derelict coppice. The latter is extremely beneficial to local wildlife whose ecosystems rely on the cyclical nature of coppice growth. Many butterflies and flowers require the sunlight that is associated with freshly cut coppice, whereas growth from the stools provides an ideal habitat after a couple of years for thrushes, finches, warblers and nightingales. However, after fifteen years or so, coppice becomes overgrown and dark leading to a decline in wildlife, requiring the process to start once again.

The devastating forest fires in Indonesia in 1997 should provide a stark reminder to consumers in the UK that there is a direct link between the rush by developing countries to exploit their wood resources, and the demand placed on them by western consumers for the resulting timber products - of which charcoal is one.Over 90% of all charcoal consumed in this country comes from overseas, predominantly the endangered tropical rainforest and mangrove habitats of South America, West Africa and South East Asia. In addition to the damage caused by unsustainable forestry practices in these regions, is the negative environmental impact arising from the consumption of fossil fuels transporting charcoal so far around the world.It is an unfortunate fact that the people producing charcoal in developing countries are not only destroying their local ecology but are also receiving very poor payment for doing so. With a commodity such as charcoal, the greatest proportion of profit goes to the importers in this country, with much of the money that does go to the country of production remaining in the hands of a few large businessman. Whilst we continue to import charcoal in a non "Fair Trade" manner, i.e. cheap labour and poor conditions, we effectively condone such practices.