The Wish List

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Acidification potential

practice, there is substantial variation facilities and the actions required to The total acidification potential of in the level of VOC emissions between mitigate these impacts. all the products on The Wish List species and they also depend on is 20.8kg of sulphur dioxide 2(SO ) drying times and other factors such as Eutrophication potential equivalent. Acidification is caused the mix of heartwood and sapwood. The total eutrophication potential of mainly by the burning of fossil fuels, Most US hardwood processing all the products on The Wish List is and the scale of impact is directly happens in rural areas, with the 2.43kg of phosphate equivalent - about related to their sulphur content. implication that terpene emissions are the same as that caused each year by Over half of the acidification less likely to contribute to urban smog. conventional farming of 0.1 hectares of potential of The Wish List products Terpenes have a short atmospheric land for wheat in the UK. So while not is due to emissions during shipping oflifespan and the highest photo-oxidant negligible, the eutrophication potential hardwoods from the US to Europe concentrations are expected within is not as significant an issue for The and reflects the relatively high sulphur five hours of emission taking place, Wish List products as the acidification content of marine fuels. The extent and within a distance of 50km. The potential or POCP. to which this impact can be reduced environmental impact of terpenes alsoPerhaps surprisingly, hardly any of the for products shipped from overseas eutrophication associated with The Wish is very dependent on international List products is linked to the growth progress to reduce the sulphur content of US hardwood. Fertilisers are very of these fuels. Efforts are being made rarely needed to encourage growth of to progressively tighten requirements American hardwoods since they thrive under the International Convention under natural conditions. Instead, nearly for the Prevention of Pollution from all eutrophication potential of The Wish Ships (MARPOL). A target has been List is due to nitrate emissions during set that the sulphur content of any burning of fuels for transport and fuel oil used on ships should not processing of materials. exceed 0.5% from 2020 onwards. This target is a long way from being met varies widely depending on the local Value of a long life internationally and The Wish List study presence of other pollutants, notablyAn important factor mitigating the uses a figure of 2.7%, which is the nitrogen oxides. For the general environmental effects of The Wish assumed current global average. public, the smell surrounding wood- List is the long life expectancy of processing units is likely to be the each of the products: the less need Photochemical ozone creation most noticeable environmental effect. for replacement, the less repetition potential (POCP) Nevertheless, the photo-oxidants of impacts. In the case of wood, The Wish List products have a created due to terpene emissions canthere is the additional benefit that combined POCP of 5.23kg of ethene cause forest and crop damage, and long-lived products supplement the equivalent. Most is due to emissions they of are harmful to humans as they carbon store in the forest and help terpenes - volatile organic compounds cause irritation in the respiratory tract to keep CO2 out of the atmosphere. (VOCs) released from wood resins. and in sensitive parts of the lungs. The likely longevity of The Wish List Terpenes are released naturally as This finding highlights the need for is a tribute both to the skills of the trees grow, but processes in which more work to understand the specificdesigners and Benchmark's craftsmen wood is heated (such as kiln drying) impacts of terpene emissions within and to the beauty and durability of result in more significant emissions. In the context of US hardwood kilning US hardwoods. ■

Fertilisers are rarely needed to encourage growth of American hardwoods

SPONSORED BY:

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

www.benchmarkfurniture.com

HOSTED BY:

London Design Festival at the V&A www.vam.ac.uk

www.americanhardwood.org For over 20 years, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been at the forefront of global wood promotion, successfully building a distinctive and creative brand for US hardwoods. AHEC’s support for creative design projects such as 'Endless Stair', for the London Design Festival, demonstrates the performance potential of these sustainable materials and provides valuable inspiration.

Produced by Nick Watts Design for the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) Author: Ruth Slavid Author (LCA chapter): Rupert Oliver Art director: Nick Watts Editor: Belinda Cobden-Ramsay Sub-editors: Tamsin Marshall Nick Jones Photography and art direction (images): Petr Krejčí

www.londondesignfestival.com

Additional photography: Jan Horník Photography assistance: Thomas Holloway

THANKS TO: Arup www.arup.com

Petr Krejčí Photography www.petrkrejci.com

James Latham www.jameslatham.com

for engineering consultation

for film and photography

for timber donations

Committee www.gallop.co.uk

Silverwood Exhibitions Morgan Timber www.silverwood-exhibitions.com www.morgantimber.co.uk

for exhibition design

for exhibition build

Graphic Designer: Stephen Savage Printed by Greenshires

for timber donations

Bulthaup Clerkenwell www.bulthaup-clerkenwell.co.uk for photography location

nickwattsdesign.co.uk T H E W I S H L I S T / T E C H N I C A L / L I F E - C YC L E


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