The November 22 event was attended by politicians, London Assembly members and representatives of Olympics organisations and the five boroughs where Games facilities will be built.
The aim was to brief decision-makers on Wood for Gold and its message that the timber sector can help minimise the environmental impact of the London Olympics against the background that they are already being billed as the “sustainable” and “carbon neutral” Games.
Wood for Gold is a joint initiative backed by Wood for Good, The Timber Trade Federation, British Woodworking Federation, TRADA, ConFor, UK Forest Products, UK Timber Frame and Glulam Associations.
Campaign chairman Martin Gale said it “united the industry in a common purpose”.
“We have some excellent messages to tell about wood and the London Olympics provide us with a captive audience,” he said.
The campaign would also “build political support” for the view that “wood can make a unique contribution to the challenge of tackling climate change”.
Besides encouraging the use of wood generally in London 2012 buildings, another ambition is a high-profile “exemplar project” in timber on the Olympics site.
It also wants to ensure that the wood sector is seen to contribute to a successful Games and the ‘legacy’ and that government and Olympic Delivery Authority timber procurement policy is “responsive to industry needs” .
“Procurement issues are where some of our initial effort has to be,” said TTF chief executive John White. “We must ensure the rules are reasonable and correct so that sustainable, legal timber is used and the industry can deliver it.”
Wood for Gold has an initial budget for the next two years of £100,000 and has hired lobbying specialist Bellenden Public Affairs.
