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Looking past the uncertainty
Gavin Knowles of Howarth Timber & Building Supplies on why scrutiny needs to be applied to ensure correct product specification, which is also being applied to the industry
he construction sector is the second largest consumer of plastics behind retail, however the industry is now starting to focus on ways in which it can improve its sustainability and green-credentials.
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A way in which this can be achieved is replacing plastic and PVCu products, such as doors and windows, with timber alternatives. However, there is potentially a real danger of unintended consequences from making the switch, especially if the replacement products don’t reduce the environmental impact.
One way in which to check the sustainability of timber products is through life cycle analysis and Environmental Product Declarations, as well as chain of custody certifications. Technology can now be used to target the tracking of timber as it moves through the
supply chain to guarantee authenticity of the timber’s origin, while other technologies focus on aggregating, analysing, visualising and verifying supply chain information. However, both are still quite rare within the industry.
More is now being done to highlight the importance of using sustainable products within construction. The WWF (2020) accord on biodiversity has gained significant traction within the EU, and has resulted in stepped up efforts when it comes to implementing strong nature and environmental laws, including timber logging.
The new reality is that wooden windows and doors are kinder to the environment,
biodegradable and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Recent studies have found that when properly protected with paint or woodstain, timber windows and doors last
ADF AUGUST 2019
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
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