Climate change, environmental concerns and issues surrounding sustainable materials are now part of everyday life and are increasingly high on the political agenda. Across the construction trade, there is more focus on responsible sourcing and using low carbon, energy efficient materials. Timber is one of the greenest materials available. It absorbs carbon while growing, uses low energy in conversion to wood-based products and is a renewable material.
The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force in March 2013 and prohibits the placing of illegally harvested timber on the EU market. Crucially, the EUTR requires companies placing timber or timber products on the EU market (both imported and domestic) for the first time to implement a Due Diligence system. Failure to do so can see timber companies facing a criminal charge.
Here we have answered some of the more common questions on the topic of sustainability. There are a range of useful links to further reliable and informative sites that specialise in sustainability within the timber industry. If there is anything more specific that you would like to know please get in touch with us via our Contact Us page.
Wood is THE most sustainable construction, interior & furniture material.
The life cycle emissions for a CLT framed building is about 30 – 50% lower than for a concrete building and using timber products can save over a tonne of CO2 per cubic metre compared to concrete or red brick.
How do they do this? Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and continue to lock it in, even when made into wood products. Yes, even your wooden bedside table is helping combat climate change.
When sustainably sourced, timber can combat climate change. Our RIBA-certified course, Procuring Sustainable Timber, lists what to check for when specifying sustainable timber.
The Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP) forms the cornerstone of TTF membership. The processes which make up the RPP are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they provide reliable and accurate information. We use our experience within the industry to advise on regulatory matters, the evolving landscape of sustainability and the commercial pressures facing our members.
The following tools, guides, links and reference sources, used correctly, will provide members with a solid foundation to completing and applying a Due Diligence system. They have been designed to simplify reporting, add robustness to the application of Due Diligence and enable members to truly benefit from the added value and third party auditing that RPP brings.