In February the Committee for Climate Change (CCC) commissioned research into the possible reduction of greenhouse gases, by increasing the use of timber in UK construction. The findings have been released in a report, ‘Wood in Construction in the UK: An Analysis of Carbon Abatement Potential’.

In the last 30 years, great technological strides have been made; the internet, DNA testing, sustainable energy, etc. But with all the progress we are making across other sectors, it remains disappointing that we are yet to implement particular changes in our use of UK timber, which could make massive contributions to the possibilities outlined in the new report.

The UK imports more than £7.8bn-worth of timber every year. In our consumption of foreign timber, we are second only to China. Some 43% of our own woodlands are under managed, and much of the UK’s hardwood is imported from France and Germany, with only 7% of UK consumption being of homegrown origin.

This is highly relevant to a particular finding of the report which states that, currently, over 50% of a building’s carbon footprint is embodied, ie, comes as a result of the extraction, manufacture, transportation, demolition and disposal of its core materials. Concrete and brick, are widely acknowledged as being intensive in their embodied carbon rates, whilst the levels of sequestered carbon they offer are very low.

So with that in mind, what difference would a high growth in timber use across the UK construction sector actually make? Well, according to the findings, the figures are substantial. In the UK residential building sector alone, an increase in timber use has the potential for an 18-19% reduction in embodied carbon, and most importantly, a huge 59-64% increase in sequestered carbon. This is further supported in the report’s conclusion, that “while reduction of embodied carbon within buildings can be achieved through various measures, an increase in stored sequestered carbon can only be achieved by increased use of biomass-based materials such as timber”.

From the way we manage our woodlands, right through the various stages of the supply chain, this area of the UK construction industry presents numerous possibilities for change; change which not only promises significant benefits to the global climate, but which would also result in positive knockon effects for local economies, immediate surroundings and nationwide flora and fauna. An increase in managed UK woodlands would not only mean fewer imports, it would also provide cleaner air, reduce flooding and enhance our wildlife habitats. This is all in addition to the long-term financial stability it would bring to UK industry, both in terms of local jobs and the wider economy.

In another recent report commissioned by the CCC, this time looking at the UK’s target for net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050, specific reference was made to timber handling. It recommended afforestation of around 30,000ha per year was needed in the UK; this would mean increasing woodland cover from the current 13% of UK land area, to a preferable 17%. Combining this with an increase in active woodland management, would have a massive impact on the forest carbon sink.

The points made so far already make a strong case for the use of home-grown timber – but there’s more. The logistics, financial costs and resulting carbon emissions generated by moving huge amounts of timber around the planet are significant.

One of the most immediate ways we can start embracing the potential of our own woodlands is to look for the Grown in Britain logo on our forest products. Any timber or timber product displaying the logo brings the assurance that relevant checks have been made into its origins and the processes used in its production.

From governing bodies, parliamentary committees and organisations such as Grown in Britain, through to buyers, suppliers and the public – we are all responsible for the safeguarding of our planet and its resources. Whilst some hugely intricate changes may be required in certain areas of climate control, this certification scheme is already available and straightforward to implement – we just need to re-think our existing attitudes towards the use of forest timber as a construction material.

The UK’s woods and forests are amazing – and their future is in our hands. We need to work together in realising their carbon abatement potential.