The Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) plan to create a supply panel for sustainable wood provides an opportunity for the industry to demonstrate its ability to deliver 100% sustainably sourced timber for the 2012 Games – and back up what Wood for Gold has been promoting for 18 months.
It is vital for the industry’s credibility that only sustainably sourced wood is used on the Olympics’ site. If we can ensure this, many of the political and media problems which have threatened to damage the image of wood with architects and specifiers will recede.
The latest announcement builds on Wood for Gold’s earlier work with the ODA. This resulted in the latter accepting certification schemes recognised by the Central Point of Expertise (CPET) as evidence of sustainability for wood used at the Olympics. Such successes will have a lasting effect as standards set for the Games and their legacy will become exemplars for public sector procurement.
It is also important not to focus solely on the main London Games site as the only opportunity to showcase wood. Regional training centres for the Olympics and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 create further major opportunities for timber across the UK. So I urge the entire timber trade to register for CompeteFor (www.competefor.com) to express interest in the contracts out to tender.
Our campaign is already benefiting the timber sector and will do so for years to come. And we now have meetings scheduled with the Games’ Tier One contractors, architects and engineers to ensure they know where and how to engage with your industry.
So I cannot think of a better way for marketing directors to spend their budget than to support Wood for Gold in our efforts to:
• identify immediate tender opportunities;
• raise positive awareness of wood use;
• develop relationships with legislators;
• help set the policy framework for future public sector procurement.
We have been recognised by the ODA as setting the standard for engagement; getting the message across that wood will help deliver the most sustainable Olympics ever. Find out more at woodforgold.co.uk.
Craig White is chairman of the Wood for Gold campaign
