FEATURE TDUK
Uniting the Timber Supply Chain
The UK government must increase the use of timber materials in construction projects, according to a recent report from the Environmental Audit Committee. Timber Development UK offers insight into how the supply chain can unite to make this goal a reality.
I
n 2016 less than one-third
the embodied carbon impact of construction.
carbon emissions as an industry quite difficult.
(28%) of newbuild homes
And yet, for many years, the timber supply
With the arrival of TDUK, this is already
across the UK were built
chain has perhaps struggled to effectively
changing. The energy that already surrounds
using timber frame, with
communicate the strength of the material to
this new organisation is lending itself to
most of those homes being constructed
government, local authorities and to contractors
taking on the big challenges we all face as an
in Scotland. The use of timber in England,
and architects who are often less experienced
industry, including the creation of a net-zero
Wales and Ireland was comparatively low,
in using timber than with other less sustainable
carbon roadmap for the timber industry.
but the Climate Change Committee (CCC)
materials, such as brick, steel and concrete.
has recommended that the use of timber be increased to 40% by 2050.
How can we change this? TDUK
“From sawmiller, through merchant to specifier and end-user, we want all our
sustainability director, Charlie Law, believes
members to know that they are connected to
the merger of the Timber Trade Federation
a supply chain which is doing all it can to bring
Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has
and TRADA to form Timber Development UK
carbon emissions to net zero. By working
warned that urgent action is needed to help
provides a perfect opportunity to implement
together, we become more than the sum of
reduce the levels of carbon emissions in
real change.
our parts.”
Now, a new report from the government’s
Charlie says: “The timber supply chain
Timber Development UK’s net-zero
consists of many players and many thousands
roadmap is designed to help the UK meet its
costing carbon in construction’, highlighted
of businesses. This can make the kind of
legal commitment to reduce carbon emissions
the limited incentives that have been
collective effort required to achieve net-zero
by 78% compared to 1990 levels by 2035 –
construction. The report, ‘Building to net zero:
introduced to encourage the use of timber in construction, as well as the need to close the skills gap in the construction sector by improving training and knowledge among structural engineers and construction teams in how to design and build with modern timber products. Sustainable timber has a fundamental role to play in the move to creating a net-zero carbon supply chain within the construction sector and built environment. It is inherently a low-carbon commodity, and a strong carbon capture and
storage solution that can significantly reduce Timber Trader UK Magazine
Summer 2022
12
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