Launched this summer, a new and important campaign had been launched to encourage greater use of timber as a material.
The central theme is one that aligns with our own message to our customers and specifiers: wood has a unique ability to reduce CO2 emissions, thus providing a timely argument that we need a new green economy to help lift us out of the post Covid-19 slump.
With the brilliantly catchy name – Wood CO₂ts less – the campaign (which has been developed by Swedish Wood in co-operation with Wood for Good and the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) members) is making great waves across the built environment’s complex supply chain to educate and inform on the benefits of timber specification.
At Forest & Maker, we’ve been incredibly pleased to see such a strong message – backed up by plenty of facts and scientific evidence – to build up understanding that timber building materials and wood products can help reduce CO2 in the atmosphere and contribute to slowing climate heating.
From our own perspective – as a business that delivers often very large scale, complex projects to craft furniture used for the interiors of incredible buildings and spaces – it’s will be great to use these facts and figures to help architects, commercial designers and end customers understand the sustainability benefits of solid, timber furniture over other alternatives – and particularly plastic.
As our Managing Director Will Hibbert says, there should be no hesitation when it comes to timber specification. “We’ve always worked really hard to educate and inform the market on the carbon capture benefits of using timber,” says Will.
“We see a tremendous demand from all parts of the supply chain for spaces that offer a combination of sustainability, wellbeing and desirability – and what better way is there than using solid, sustainably grown and sourced timber crafted furniture and fittings. It makes sense for the planet – and it makes sense to our human health too as there’s now so much evidence timber interiors can connect us to nature and help reduce stress levels,” he concludes.
We thought we’d use this opportunity to share the really positive facts compiled by Wood CO₂ts less – all of which are great to know and even better to share, and share again.
Fact 1 – Trees capture CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it as carbon
Fact 2 – Mature trees are harvested and their carbon is captured and stored in buildings and other wood products
Fact 3 – More trees are planted and the size of the European forest carbon sink continues to grow
Fact 4 – Using timber contributes to reducing CO₂ levels in the atmosphere in three ways:
Fact 5 – UK forestry is an important part of the UK economy
Click for more information on our own sustainability credentials and story. Or, head over to the Wood CO₂ts less campaign for more info on all things timber.
