Since early 2006 we have seen both
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the timber industry move strongly towards the implementation
of forest and product certification to provide independent third
party certification of sustainable management practices; and |
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the introduction and take-up of a wide range of new
sustainability/environmental
regulations, material specifications and procurement policies. Many of
these have been developed or strongly influenced by groups with anti-timber
agendas. |
In many instances, the strong life-cycle environmental attributes of timber
are not being acknowledged in new sustainability/environmental regulations,
material specifications and procurement policies, despite the facts in favour
of timber.
Natural timber products
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have an extremely low embodied energy in manufacture |
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are highly durable and long lasting when designed and maintained
correctly |
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require little energy and other resources for recycling |
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become building waste or demolition materials which can be directly
reused or recycled into other products |
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at end of life can be burnt as biomass to produce energy. This
displaces dirtier and non-renewable fossil fuels and therefore reduces
overall carbon dioxide emissions |
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are unique in that trees harvested can be regrown and replaced
while other materials are finite in supply |
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are created from trees which, in growing, lock in carbon
and release oxygen* |
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store carbon in land fill. |
* Plant growth is a process
of photosynthesis. Using solar energy, atmospheric carbon dioxide is
taken up and converted into oxygen, which is emitted, and carbon, which is
stored by the growing tree. Overall the air is cleaner when a tree grows
- because of uptake of carbon dioxide and the release of life-giving oxygen.
Engineered, composite and treated timber products have many of the same
advantages and are already maximising efficient use of timber resources and
waste materials.
Wood Products Victoria aims to ensure that timber products are better
represented in current and future sustainability/environmental regulations,
material specifications and procurement policies and timber taking its natural
place.
timber sustainability map
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Our timber sustainability map diagrammatically summarises
the positive aspects of timber for the environment, including
its potential for carbon offsets and carbon trading, a life
cycle analysis overview and extended producer responsibility
(EPR).
Click on the adjacent image to view the timber
sustainability map in greater detail. |
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