Timber once again won the case as the most sustainable construction material during the Great Materials Debate yesterday at Ecobuild at Earls Court.
After hearing the arguments for brick, steel, concrete and timber – the latter presented by Wood for Gold chairman Craig White – the audience voted overwhelmingly in favour of timber, as it had done last year.
Mr White cited the long his-tory of using timber as evidence that it was the only material that could claim “constant renewability”.
In his 10-minute slot, he also outlined the success of certification and the role of forests as carbon sinks.
Mr White closed his argument by highlighting forests’ aesthetic and amenity values. “You wouldn’t want to go for a picnic in a clay pit or a steel foundry. A forest is the most fantastic factory floor in the world,” he said.
Elsewhere at the show timber also had a strong presence with exhibitors ranging from Jewson and Travis Perkins, to timber frame manufacturers and joinery companies.
All the companies that TTJ spoke to on the first day of the show were pleased with the level of enquiries and the interest from architects and engineers. While most agreed they would probably make few sales at the show itself, they said it was important to have a presence at what has become a major stage for sustainable products.
“We are not trying to get sales from this show,” said Eleco Timber Frame sales and estimating manager Joe Tupshafski. “We want to make sure people know we are here.”
On the UK Timber Frame Association stand, Bob Davis was also “making sure the message gets across about how eco-friendly timber frame is”.
A full report on Ecobuild will appear in the next issue of TTJ.
