The timber industry has a unique window of opportunity to advance the use of wood and wood products in construction. But there is a danger that we could miss it if we do not join forces, share knowledge and ‘sing from the same song sheet’.
The current social and political climate could not be better for wood as a building material, with the government committed to greater reliance on modern methods of construction (MMC) and cuts in CO2 emissions. Both are areas in which timber has a lot to offer and, as an industry, we should be communicating this to the government and the wider construction sector.
Trade bodies and companies behind the other major construction materials are working hard to establish their sustainability credentials. The UK timber industry, by comparison, is small and fragmented, but with a wealth of individual companies and trade bodies in each of the specialist markets. This fragmentation can, in fact, work to our benefit because it reflects the many different construction options timber offers.
It is essential that wherever our products are specified in construction, manufacturers or suppliers show an understanding of government requirements and promote messages about sustainability, the environment and efficiency in use.
Wood. for good is facilitating this by promoting key messages that everyone in the industry can support in our new “Changing Attitudes” campaign. It is also why we have planned the “Big Challenge” national timber conference on September 20 in conjunction with all the timber industry associations, TRADA, BRE and supported by TTJ, where decision makers in the timber industry can understand the case for wood in the light of the challenges we face in today’s market. It is a unique event that will unite the sector and it is vital for all those who supply the construction industry, big or small, to attend.
We may be a fragmented industry, but it is in our common interest to ensure wood does not lose out to other construction materials. We must not miss this opportunity.
