10 NEWS
Lathams moves to address ‘lack of carbon understanding’ in industry Timber and materials supplier James Latham has released a ‘carbon calculator’ designed to direct customers towards more sustainable products. Built in partnership with the BioComposites Department at the University of Bangor, it is based upon detailed research into the embodied and biogenic carbon impacts of the products that it supplies. The calculator covers just over 70% of the total Lathams range, and focuses on timber products. In time, it will also incorporate composite materials that were out of scope for the first phase. Ewa Bazydlo, environmental manager at Lathams, says: “Reducing the environmental impact of our buildings is one of the key issues of our time. However, the understanding around sustainability is not consistent across the industry. “We’ve developed the calculator to help our customers to better understand the sustainability of the materials they choose as well as the expected performance levels that they offer.”
The tool calculates environmental impact by looking at the carbon footprint of products, from production through to delivery to Lathams’ depots. It also looks at how much carbon is stored within the wood’s structure, known as biogenic carbon. Each product then receives a rating from 1-4 (one being the highest, four being the lowest), based on the confidence that Lathams has in the data used for the calculations. The higher the score, the higher the quality of the data points that have been reviewed, for example an audited and published EPD (Environmental Performance Declaration). Lathams will be adding the carbon data to all invoices, delivery notes, and other key documentation to increase visibility around this issue. It is a move that Campbell Skinner, senior lifecycle assessment analyst at BioComposites Centre, argues is a positive step forward: “Companies have used eco-labels before, but the approach taken by Lathams is really innovative. For the first time
Management buyout at ATA Following a management buyout in November, ATA Engineering Processes has changed its trading name to ATA Engineering Products – and Mark Whitbread is now be the owner and MD of the new company. Having earned its stripes supplying tools for the aerospace Industry, ATA has built a first-class reputation for supplying CNC laser cutters, router cutters and woodworking machines. In a statement, Mark said: “We will continue to sell the same extensive selection of products and hope that we can continue our mutual beneficial working relationship with our customers. “I would also like to thank ATA customers in advance for their continued support and look forward to working with them all and growing our businesses together.” The company’s contact details remain the same. 01442 264411 sales@ataeng.com www.ataeng.com
that I’m aware, the confidence with which these footprints are presented is rated and placed foremost in the labelling. “Latham’s customers are being given a clear indication of the transparency with which suppliers are reporting their carbon footprints and this will surely nudge more companies towards independently verified reporting schemes, such as EPDs.” Ewa adds: “We needed a mechanism to rank our products and make it quick and easy for our customers to be able to specify more carbon conscious materials. As a large distributor, we have the relationships with the supply chain, which improves our ability to source and analyse the relevant data and make recommendations. “We hope that others in the industry follow our lead and improve the transparency around
these products so that we can work together to reduce construction’s impact on the environment.” To complement the calculator and share some of the insights from its research, Lathams will be publishing a Think You Know Carbon? guide. It will include an overview of the main issues in sustainability, a glossary of key terminology and steps that architects and specifiers can take to be more sustainable in their designs. It will also include highlights of some of the most sustainable products Lathams stocks, from manufacturers such as Accsys Technologies, which produce modified timber Accoya, and UPM Plywood, home to WISA plywood products. Find out more at www. lathamtimber.co.uk/about-us/ carbon-calculator. www.lathamtimber.co.uk
AkzoNobel receives royal seal of approval as a leader in sustainability AkzoNobel is proud to be one of the first recipients of the Terra Carta Seal, which was launched at COP26 by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. The Terra Carta Seal is a major new award which recognises global companies that are driving innovation and demonstrating their commitment to – and momentum towards – the creation of genuinely sustainable markets. It is part of the Terra Carta, a recovery plan for nature, people and planet which was introduced early this year through HRH The Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets Initiative. As the only paints and coatings manufacturer to receive the
prestigious honor, AkzoNobel is among an elite group of companies which have been acknowledged for holding a leadership position within their industry, and which have credible transition roadmaps underpinned by globally recognised, scientific metrics for achieving net zero by 2050 or earlier.
