TIMBER
MERCHANTS AND THE SUPPLY OF SUSTAINABLE TIMBER
The importance of a shift towards a more sustainable lifestyle has long been a key talking point around the world, and many businesses across all sectors are taking steps to become more eco-friendly to meet these changes in consumers’ values and purchasing decisions.
A
nd the construction industry should be no exception to this discussion: the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) Sixth Carbon Budget report, published in late 2020, advocates the use of more timber in construction as a method of increasing sustainability within the sector. Not only does the naturally renewable material capture carbon, but its increased application in construction would also limit the amount of high carbon building materials like concrete being used.
But not all timber is made equal, and it’s vital that merchants supply responsibly-sourced timber. That’s according to Arbor Forest Products’ purchasing manager, Fraser Dunn, who says that investing in the supply of truly sustainable timber will set merchants apart, and that they can be confident in choosing eco- friendly timber products without compromising on quality.
A sustainable solution “The CCC recommends an increased use of timber in construction as part of an industry- wide decarbonisation strategy, which would be an important factor in the UK’s target for net zero emissions by 2050,” he says. “Supply chains will be vital to the success of this industry-wide shift to an increased use of timber in building products, and merchants must anticipate and prepare for this in order to not get left behind. By investing in the supply of responsibly-sourced timber now, builders’ merchants will be ahead of the curve, gaining
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loyalty from customers as the industry shifts to a more sustainability-focused strategy. “
Eco-friendly timber
Dunn believes that it is important to note that although the general increased use of timber in construction is a step in the right direction, it has varying degrees of sustainability depending on factors like how it has been sourced. “It is vital that as merchants stock more timber to keep up with increasing demands, care is taken when choosing a supplier,” he adds. “For wood to be a truly sustainable material, it must be sourced responsibly – and there are several key factors for merchants to consider when buying timber.
“Choosing a reputable supplier with full accreditation is the best place to start. Leading timber suppliers will be transparent in how they source timber and the steps they take to ensure it is as eco-friendly as it can be; for example, Arbor Forest products works with its certification body to ensure that all criteria required by chain of custody certification are met, while also ensuring timber is purchased from legal and sustainable forests. Robust control measures should be in place in order to ensure the chain – from the forest to the customer – does not break.” Dunn says it is also worth researching where the timber is sourced from – including figures on trees being replanted – as well as the manufacturing methods used by suppliers to produce timber products. “For example, companies which invest in reducing the
emissions caused by manufacturing processes contribute to the overall reduced carbon footprint of timber – this could include the implementation of a biomass plant on site to provide an efficient heat source which reduces waste, as Arbor Forest Products has done, as well as using manufacturing methods which minimise waste.”
No compromise on quality Stocking sustainable timber does not have to mean compromising on quality and Dunn says that, in fact, certain manufacturing processes guarantee both.
“With industrial users reporting wastage levels of up to 15%, often due to defects, it’s clear that quality and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, more and more production facilities are using technological developments to tackle this issue, including Arbor Forest Products’ new sawmill planing line which we launched earlier this year and uses technology to identify and trim out defects such as splits and knots – meaning not only less waste, but also higher quality timber for customers,” he says
Purchasing timber products from a reputable supplier is the key to merchants confidently supplying sustainable timber to the building trade as it becomes an important factor in the industry becoming more eco-conscious. By beginning to supply timber that is as sustainable as it is high quality now, merchants will be in a strong position as the construction industry increasingly focuses on making a difference for the future of the planet. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net August 2021
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