Timber benefits and sustainability

For many years now the UK timber industry has been ever vigilant in its procurement of timber and the social, environmental and economic factors surrounding it. Well-managed, sustainable, forests are integral to both our planet and the industry we work within.

Timber can often get some bad press, so we felt we would focus on some of the reasons why timber is such a great material to be involved with.

Here are the best reasons for using timber products:

It comes from responsibly managed forests

Every piece of timber now coming into the UK comes from well-managed forests. EUTR (EU Timber Regulation) ensures that every piece of imported Hardwood has gone through a due diligence process to ensure it is both legal and sustainable. More often than not this process is now backed up with a full chain of custody from FSC or indeed other independent verification schemes. The days of illegal logging are gone. If a forest is well managed, timber is a completely sustainable material

Carbon benefits

You have probably heard about businesses trying to reduce their “carbon footprint”. What this means is that organisations are trying to produce less carbon dioxide (through car fumes, energy use in buildings, etc.) because it is a leading cause of climate change. One of the best things about working with wood is that it actually absorbs and stores carbon dioxide – thereby reducing the entire world’s carbon footprint. Researchers say that every cubic meter of wood used instead of other materials can save a total of 2 tons of carbon dioxide.

Energy usage

Another important environmental concern is the amount of energy needed to produce a building material. Timber, which needs very little more than water and sunlight to grow, has the lowest embodied energy of any mainstream material – 24 times less, in fact, than steel!

A great insulator

Did you know that wood has the best thermal insulation properties around? That’s right – it beats all other mainstream construction materials in this regard. It’s five times better than concrete, ten times better than bricks, and an incredible 350 times better than steel! So if you’re looking for something that can provide great thermal insulation and comes at a low cost to the environment, sustainable timber should be your go-to.

Beautiful, practical, and good for you

Perhaps the most traditional reason people use wood in their homes is simple: it looks great, and it’s very versatile. Timber is durable and attractive, and what’s more – it’s good for you. A range of studies (some of which we’ve reported on this newsfeed) point to the fact that timber increases your sense of health and wellness.

If you’re looking to purchase sustainable timber, call Quercus on 0845 50 50 311. Our well-trained staff will be happy to help you select a timber that’s good for you, your customer, and the environment.