Timber Development UK (TDUK) has just published the first set of its huge new library of Timber Knowledge Sheets – with 50+ now available for download. The new knowledge sheets introduce and answer common questions about every aspect of working with wood, from the difference between hardwood and softwood, through
Twenty buildings and fourteen furniture projects have been shortlisted for this year’s Wood Awards – which celebrate excellence and innovation in timber architecture and design. From over two hundred projects entered, this shortlist of thirty-four entries celebrates the diversity and creativity of buildings and furniture made using the world’s foremost
The latest report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries, ‘Timber Construction: Barriers and Solutions’, provides a set of policy recommendations to expand low-carbon timber construction in the UK. Increasing the use of timber in construction has been recommended by both the Climate Change Committee and Environmental
A guide to understanding construction options for low-carbon developers. Timber Development UK (TDUK) – the UK’s trade association for the timber supply chain – has launched a new guide to understanding options for timber construction. Aimed at developers, investors and policy makers, Timber Typologies outlines the variety of build options
Timber Development has unveiled a comprehensive Timber Skills Action plan in partnership with the HCI Skills Gateway, aimed at equipping the UK construction industry with the necessary skills to increase the use of timber and achieve net-zero targets. With the construction industry responsible for almost 40% of global emissions, and
The gap between record 2021 volumes and low 2022 volumes began to close in November, with imports resembling more regular winter totals. The disparity in total volumes between 2021 and 2022 was just 14% in November, compared to 22% in October and 21% in September. The reduced disparity between 2021
ABB delivers innovative and intelligent energy storage solution for Sweden’s landmark culture center Keeping visitors and staff safe with a unique battery energy storage solution for the wooden structure’s sprinkler system In case of an energy failure, the ABB solution will provide sustainable back up power 24/7 The Sara Kulturhus
Construction, property, and facilities company, The Sovini Group, are investing in offsite construction as part of their ongoing Net-Zero Carbon Commitment. The Group who boasts a unique end-to-end supply chain is supporting their wider environmental strategy with their latest initiative in the form of adapting raw materials for the new build
UPM’s ultra-sustainable new technology, WISA BioBond, becomes standard bonding agent in all James Latham Ltd’s collection of UPM WISA-Spruce. Today, James Latham Ltd (Lathams), one of the UK’s leading independent distributors of panel products, announces the introduction of WISA®’s new BioBond technology to its full range of WISA-Spruce plywood. WISA BioBond is
The latest Timber Development UK (TDUK) statistics show record hardwood volumes were imported in May 2022. Overall import volumes for hardwood were up 25% in the period running from January to May 2022, relative to the same period in 2021. This increase in hardwood volumes has largely been driven by
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Timber Development UK (TDUK) has just published the first set of its huge new library of Timber Knowledge Sheets – with 50+ now available for download. The new knowledge sheets introduce and answer common questions about every aspect of working with wood, from the difference between hardwood and softwood, through to acoustic regulations, Eurocode 5 principles, embodied carbon, and sourcing timber sustainably. Developed with experts from Edinburgh Napier University, and TDUK’s unrivalled membership network of supply, manufacture and design professionals, these 50+ knowledge sheets are the first batch of a planned 140 to help support the industry to build better with wood. TDUK chief executive, David Hopkins says: “Following the merger between the Timber Trade Federation and TRADA last year, we promised to connect the timber supply chain, lead best practice, and accelerate a low-carbon future. “Our Timber Knowledge Sheets are another example of us doing exactly that – and represent a big step towards our vision of the UK as a country where timber is the number one material choice for all construction projects. “Amidst a climate emergency, changing how we build is crucial – as it represents a major portion of our carbon footprint. The material and design choices we make today will shape the future we have tomorrow. “Timber is an existing, proven solution to how we construct a low-carbon future, with independent studies showing that methods such as timber frame have up to 20% lower embodied carbon than traditional masonry.[1] “Fundamentally, trees absorb carbon, and when turned into long term construction products, can store it for decades if not millennia. Most other materials you find on building sites do the exact opposite – spewing tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. “Taking on climate change requires collective action, so a big part of TDUK’s mission is to make sure that everyone in the timber supply chain has the opportunity, the tools, and the knowledge to succeed. “These sheets, released today, add considerable depth to our online library, which is already the largest, most comprehensive source of timber knowledge in the UK. This will support all to build better with wood.” These new Knowledge Sheets touch on all topics timber, so whether you are an architect, engineer, designer, builder, installer, contractor, or merchant, or any other member of the timber supply chain, you’ll find a wealth of information packed within. Between pages, you will find introductions to all kinds of timber components and methods of timber construction – all described in an accessible and easy to understand fashion – from Lightweight Timber Frame Construction to Modern Methods and Offsite Timber Construction. The Knowledge Sheets also contain plenty of regulatory guidance, ‘best practice’ information for working on site, as well as practical introductions to working with timber in challenging contexts such as flood-prone areas. Everything from the day-to-day (such as Loft Conversions or Timber Flooring) to the more specialised (Upgrading Doors for Fire Resistance) is covered, along with all aspects of sustainability – from Carbon Cycle and Storage through to Trees and Timber. These Timber Knowledge Sheets follow hot on the heels of the recently published Span Tables for C16 and C24 timber, which have already proven incredibly popular. TDUK members have access to our entire Knowledge Library, which along with these 50+ Timber Knowledge Sheets, includes briefs, case studies, research summaries and more. A further 90 Timber Knowledge Sheets are to be published imminently. While most Timber Knowledge Sheets are members only, anyone can access and download Timber Sizes & Tolerances, Timber and Embodied Carbon, or Construction Site Timber Best Practice with a free user account (register here) To get started on your new timber journey, simply go to www.timberdevelopment.uk, whether you are just beginning or a seasoned expert. If you work with wood, you already belong. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Twenty buildings and fourteen furniture projects have been shortlisted for this year’s Wood Awards – which celebrate excellence and innovation in timber architecture and design. From over two hundred projects entered, this shortlist of thirty-four entries celebrates the diversity and creativity of buildings and furniture made using the world’s foremost sustainable and renewable material – wood. A seafront visitor centre, a concert hall, and an office complex are among the shortlisted buildings for the 2023 Wood Awards, while lathe-turned lamps, a table-cum-musical instrument and a community-built table set are among the furniture and product projects. The Awards are split into two main categories, Furniture & Product and Buildings. Buildings are split into: Commercial & Leisure, Education & Public Sector, Interior, Private Sector, Small Project, and Restoration & Reuse. Within Furniture & Product, there are three subcategories: Bespoke, Production Made and Student Designer. Spanning significant public spaces, forward-thinking offices, and unique private homes, the twenty shortlisted structures, listed below, provide a snapshot of exemplary and progressive timber architecture. Shortlisted projects for the Building Categories of the Wood Awards 2023 are: Jim Greaves, Head of the Building Judges says: “Selected from over ninety entries, this impressive shortlist reveals the best use of timber in construction today and demonstrates that wood truly is a material of continuous change and innovation. “Our panel of judges will now visit each shortlisted building to determine this year’s winners – and select a stand-out project to receive the prestigious Gold Award. “This rigorous process is one of the things that makes the Wood Awards the highest accolade in the UK timber industry.” The fourteen shortlisted furniture and product items, listed below, reveal an accomplished array of materially engaged designs. Incorporating endangered heritage techniques, community-led production, innovative problem solving and poetic exploration, each of the entries tells its own story about how wood can transform and enhance our surroundings. Shortlisted projects for the Furniture and Product Categories of the Wood Awards 2023 are: Corinne Julius, Head of the Furniture and Products Judges says: “Wood is a wonderful and often underrated, sustainable material. It’s a taken-for-granted material that deserves more respect. “The Wood Awards are intended to showcase to the public the beauty and versatility of wood and highlight its ability to connect us to the natural world. “They also aim to inspire the industry, designers, makers, and students to gain a better understanding of wood in its myriad forms in order to create beautiful, intelligent products for an increasingly discriminating public.” The Wood Awards shortlist will be on display from 20 – 23 September at Gallery@Oxo in partnership with the Material Matters Exhibition during the London Design Festival. The winners of the Wood Awards will be announced on 22 November during an Evening Ceremony at Carpenter’s Hall. As a not-for-profit competition, the Wood Awards can only happen with collaborative industry sponsorship. A huge thank you for continued support from Carpenters Company, American Hardwood Export Council and Timber Development UK. You can find out more information about the shortlist here. Previous winners of the Wood Awards can be found at www.woodawards.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The latest report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Timber Industries, ‘Timber Construction: Barriers and Solutions’, provides a set of policy recommendations to expand low-carbon timber construction in the UK. Increasing the use of timber in construction has been recommended by both the Climate Change Committee and Environmental Audit Committee to decarbonise the UK’s built environment and achieve net zero by 2050. The report looks at how the government can achieve this through policies that increase demand for sustainable timber, increase the resilience of timber supply, tackle misconceptions about building safety and expand low-carbon construction skills. This latest APPG report complements the work of the Timber in Construction Working Group, which was set up by the government in 2021 to identify significant actions that should be taken to increase the number of timber structures built in the UK. The working group is set to release its official timber construction roadmap later this year. Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Chair of the APPG, said: “Built environment emissions are a major cause for concern, directly accounting for around 25% of the UK’s total carbon output. Tackling these emissions is essential if we are to hit net zero targets. “By using wood instead of other materials in construction, we can reduce these emissions, both through the carbon captured and stored in the wood product and the avoidance of using alternative CO2-intensive materials. “The latest APPG report looks to assist policymakers in their bid to decarbonise construction by outlining what policies can be used to expand timber use in the UK. “This report goes beyond the arguments for timber construction. We feel these have been well made and to good effect. “Instead, we want to turn these arguments into a policy reality, inspiring the government, and other political parties, in their bid to formulate green-built environment policies for the election next year.” You can access the report via the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI) website or download it below. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A guide to understanding construction options for low-carbon developers. Timber Development UK (TDUK) – the UK’s trade association for the timber supply chain – has launched a new guide to understanding options for timber construction. Aimed at developers, investors and policy makers, Timber Typologies outlines the variety of build options and methodologies available for low carbon timber construction and details the sort of building types each method is suitable or appropriate for. Written with Waugh Thistleton Architects, one of the leading ‘timber first’ architects’ practices in the UK, the book is intended as a primer or beginners guide to the variety of timber solutions available. It will help decision makers understand the options open to them and make the right choices to deliver the best outcomes. David Hopkins, chief executive at Timber Development UK, said: “Timber is vital when it comes to decarbonising construction. However, if it is going to realise its full potential, we can no longer talk in simple generic terms about this material. We need to be specific about the systems and approaches available and the benefits and risks each of these can bring. “We can’t make progress if clients, architects and policy makers are talking at cross purposes about what they mean when they talk about building in timber.” Alastair Ogle, associate at Waugh Thistleton Architects, and one of the lead authors of the book, said: “We still see enormous amounts of misinformation and misunderstanding when it comes to timber. Clients, local authorities and even insurers don’t seem to understand that all of these things they refer to as “timber” are in fact a wide range of completely different build systems with very different properties. “We’re committed to helping design and enable a low-carbon building revolution, but that will only come when we increase understanding across the market. We hope this will in turn increase confidence in permitting, designing, insuring and constructing the low-carbon timber buildings of the future.” Timber Typologies is the first in a trio of books aimed at increasing understanding options among the decision makers. It will be accompanied by Timber Policy – a guide to the variety of ways countries and city authorities are encouraging timber construction around the world, and Timber LCA, examining comparisons of lifecycle analysis between buildings constructed of different materials. You can download Timber Typologies for free from the Timber Development UK website.
Timber Development has unveiled a comprehensive Timber Skills Action plan in partnership with the HCI Skills Gateway, aimed at equipping the UK construction industry with the necessary skills to increase the use of timber and achieve net-zero targets. With the construction industry responsible for almost 40% of global emissions, and half of all materials extracted from the environment, experts have identified the use of timber as a key solution to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Engineered products like Cross-Laminated Timber can capture and store carbon in the built environment, resulting in a net benefit of 754CO2/m2 reduction compared to other forms of construction. The Timber Skills Action plan provides an industry-agreed breakdown of the skills and knowledge required for building with timber. This will aid the development of training programmes and support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) progression, enabling built environment professionals to confidently incorporate timber into building designs. David Hopkins, Chief Executive of Timber Development UK, said: “Our ambition is to support every built environment professional to identify and address timber skills and knowledge gaps so the industry can make the best use of timber in construction. “The construction industry faces a steep climb to achieve net zero targets as one of the worst-performing industries. Timber provides a ready-made solution that doesn’t rely on greenwashing, speculative innovations, or progress in other industries to deliver genuine carbon savings in the short and medium term. We now need the construction sector and government to hear this call to action.” To address the skills gap, Timber Development UK has built a coalition across industry, academia, and funders, creating the competency framework at the heart of the plan. The framework already underpins a set of short, practical courses developed by NMITE’s Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) in partnership with TDUK. The Timber TED (Technical Engineering & Design) courses provide comprehensive and flexible training for modern timber construction methods, enabling professionals to upskill and reskill in this critical area. Kirsty Connell-Skinner, Programme Manager at the HCI Skills Gateway, said: “This plan, led by HCI Skills Gateway using Scotland’s best practice, is an important step in the development of the UK-wide timber construction trade, as it allows us to set a national mission for the industry. “The four UK nations have achieved different standards and progress within the sector, but this action plan has been built on the best practice, learning and thorough research by a strong group of partners, and serves as a collaborative way of moving forward.” Timber is lightweight, easily workable, and can be processed efficiently using modern methods of construction, reducing waste and improving productivity. This provides solutions for affordable, energy-efficient housing, national retrofit targets, and net-zero public sector buildings. With the launch of the Timber Skills Action plan, the UK construction industry can take a significant step towards achieving its net-zero targets and reducing its impact on the environment. For further information, please visit Timber Development UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The gap between record 2021 volumes and low 2022 volumes began to close in November, with imports resembling more regular winter totals. The disparity in total volumes between 2021 and 2022 was just 14% in November, compared to 22% in October and 21% in September. The reduced disparity between 2021 and 2022 was seen most clearly in the softwood category, where a 182,000m3 gap in October was reduced to 72,000m3 in November. Overall, imports in 2022 have been significantly lower than the records set last year, with totals from January to November 2.4 million m3 lower than the same period in 2021. Only hardwood has seen growth in 2022, up 13% compared to last year. TDUK Head of Technical and Trade, Nick Boulton, said: “Totals in Q4 are beginning to resemble the levels of previous years, with the large disparity seen between 2022 and 2021 starting to close. “These more ‘regular’ volumes, however, are largely due to reduced winter demand in previous years rather than increased volumes this year, with the timber market often winding down for the festive season. “Overall, volumes have been low in 2022, with healthy stock levels and market uncertainty being reflected in this year’s import patterns. “Looking forward, 2023 is set to be another tricky year for the timber trade, with the CPA predicting reduced activity in crucial private housing and RM&I sectors. “The CPA has predicted a shallow recession in 2023, with demand likely to pick up again in 2024. “Demand for timber is also likely to increase significantly in the long-term, as the UK looks to reduce emissions in the built environment and achieve net zero by 2050.” Members can read the full statistics report here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ABB delivers innovative and intelligent energy storage solution for Sweden’s landmark culture center Keeping visitors and staff safe with a unique battery energy storage solution for the wooden structure’s sprinkler system In case of an energy failure, the ABB solution will provide sustainable back up power 24/7 The Sara Kulturhus is a state-of-the-art cultural venue and hotel in Skellefteå, Sweden. It is home to the city library, a museum and art gallery and a theatre which stages 450 performances a year. Standing 75m tall, the 20-story timber building is one of the world’s tallest wooden structures and is an international showcase for sustainable design and construction, with 100 percent of its electricity coming from renewable sources, including hydro and wind generation. The timber structure is so sophisticated that it removes more than twice the carbon emissions produced by the operational energy it uses and the embodied carbon from the production and transport of the materials used to construct it. As a zero-emissions site, the Sara Kulturhus design required careful consideration and innovative solutions, such as its unique battery energy storage system (BESS) which was designed collaboratively by Skellefteå Kraft and ABB to provide reliable, clean power to the building’s all-important fire sprinkler system. In a timber construction like the Sara Kulturhus , the sprinkler system is critical to keeping staff and visitors in the building safe. Traditionally, this fire protection system would be powered by emergency diesel generators, which serve as an onsite power supply should the mains power not be available. With the Sara Kulturhus’ commitment to sustainability, there is no diesel generator on site, so an alternative solution was required. Skellefteå Kraft and ABB worked together on a bespoke energy storage solution to deliver maximum safety and reliability while harnessing the building’s hydroelectric green electricity, received from the grid, which is used as the power supply. The bespoke BESS comprises six battery packs from local supplier Northvolt, AC and DC switchgear from ABB, inverters from EPC Power and a transformer. For Patrik Sundberg, Business Manager at Skellefteå Kraft, the BESS installation at the Sara Kulturhus was the culmination of a journey of collaboration between his company, ABB and Swedish battery supplier Northvolt. He said: “This is a truly sustainable, negative carbon building that operates on 100 percent renewable energy. Our solutions had to mirror this, so it was important to find a sustainable safety solution to power the sprinklers that didn’t use diesel. To reduce the site’s carbon footprint, it was also key to work with local suppliers, like battery manufacturer Northvolt. This innovative new concept really pushes the boundaries on the use of battery energy storage for fire prevention applications and will set a new standard for sustainable buildings in the future.” With the unique wooden design of the building, ABB’s packaged solution was built, and factory tested off-site and then energized in the basement of the Sara Kulturhus. To make it easier to manage the BESS and to ensure a reliable 24/7 power supply for the building’s sprinkler system, the solution was supplied with a custom ABB eStorage OS energy management system to provide next level energy monitoring, diagnostics, and data and analytics. As well as optimizing energy use internally, this advanced autonomous AI technology interfaces with the building management system, allowing the center to interact with nearby buildings so any excess renewable energy generated can be supplied to other parts of the city when required. Sara Kulturhus CEO Anna Jirstrand Sandlund said: “This is a lighthouse project which embodies the region’s values of delivering ecological, economical, and social impact to attract more people to Skellefteå and supports the green transition across North Sweden. With a wooden building of this scale, fire safety had to be one of our main considerations. By collaborating with ABB and Skellefteå Kraft we have developed a unique solution that is now one of the highlights of our twice daily guided tours for visitors. With the building itself now a blueprint for sustainability, we continue to work towards equaling its impact on the inside and inspiring our visitors and residents to become more sustainable.” Learn more about ABB’s energy storage solutions offering by visiting solutions.abb/eStorage Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction, property, and facilities company, The Sovini Group, are investing in offsite construction as part of their ongoing Net-Zero Carbon Commitment. The Group who boasts a unique end-to-end supply chain is supporting their wider environmental strategy with their latest initiative in the form of adapting raw materials for the new build construction arm of business, Sovini Construction. The highly advocated method of construction is set to facilitate the Group’s development framework to deliver 1,000 new high quality and affordable homes within the next four years. Their newest shift in sustainable construction management is the latest in a longline of ecological and biodiverse plans for delivering affordable social housing across the North West. Time for timber The structurally graded timber is sourced from Scandinavia and delivered to the Group’s independent builders’ merchant, Sovini Trade Supplies. The climate-smart raw material is then transferred to a local Merseyside-based organisations, timber frame specialist SticX. The award-winning team at SticX use the latest 3D CAD software to integrate the main architectural design of the structures. Once constructed using the PEFC certified timber, the frame is compartmentalised and transported to site where it is erected. SticX timber frame delivery on site The Sovini Group’s timber framed homes provide a significantly lower carbon footprint through its manufacturing, reducing energy consumption throughout its lifetime and locking-away atmospheric CO2 for generations. John Maddock, Director of SticX shares: “Timber Framing is a great solution for The Sovini Group. For a client who’s genuinely concerned about sustainability it scores highly. By partnering with them, we can help develop improved solutions to save money and time. Ultimately, using timber frames means they can provide higher quality houses for their clients. We’re also a local company, so their spend stays local and benefits the Merseyside economy. We’re delighted to share our expertise with such an enlightened and progressive client”. The Group uses recyclable materials which is designed to achieve superior levels of fabric performance, suitable for their projects which are seeking to achieve the very highest fabric efficiency, airtightness standards, and sustainable credentials. The Sovini Group recently welcomed timber frame specialist SticX to their flagship Morris Meadows development in Merseyside to view the environmentally friendly materials come to life. From left to right, Anita Harrison- Carroll The Sovini Group Chief Business Officer, John Maddock SticX Director, Alan Evans Director of Operations at Sovini Trade Supplies. Sustainable Social Housing The Sovini Group create thriving and inclusive communities which are well-integrated into wider urban systems. The offsite construction has proven performance, providing an advantageous construction method for affordable housing and with the Group’s timber frames being produced off site and delivered in a prefabricated form, construction times to make a building ‘wind & watertight’ can save as much as 30% over that of traditional construction. Employing over 800 colleagues, The Sovini Group is a key contributor to the social, economic, and environmental development and future growth across the North West. To read more about The Sovini Group’s end-to-end supply chain services and Net-Zero Carbon Commitment visit their website here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
UPM’s ultra-sustainable new technology, WISA BioBond, becomes standard bonding agent in all James Latham Ltd’s collection of UPM WISA-Spruce. Today, James Latham Ltd (Lathams), one of the UK’s leading independent distributors of panel products, announces the introduction of WISA®’s new BioBond technology to its full range of WISA-Spruce plywood. WISA BioBond is the latest bonding innovation from UPM, a globally-renowned manufacturer of sustainable architectural plywood, now used in the entire WISA-Spruce range. A landmark development in plywood adhesive, BioBond replaces at least 50% of standard glue’s fossil-based phenol with lignin, timber’s inherent bonding agent. Obtained as a by-product of the Kraft Process[1], this partial-substitution reduces the carbon footprint of WISA-Spruce by approximately 10%, without compromising technical performance or visual appeal. No compromise on performance WISA-Spruce is manufactured using UPM’s proprietary BioBond technology, and mirrors the qualities of plywood produced using the traditional higher-carbon bonding method. This means it offers a like-for-like greener alternative. As with all WISA’s plywood, WISA-Spruce with BioBond technology has undergone rigorous testing to guarantee its high performance qualities, meeting superior standards of strength, resistance and sustainability. Forming a strong and sustainable bond More than just a new form of glue, BioBond has reduced CO2 WISA’s plywood portfolio, Already available for birch, and now spruce, plywood, UPM plans to roll out BioBond across all its plywood mills, gradually covering its entire range. As one of the UK’s most sustainable materials distributors, Lathams is keen to introduce UK specifiers to the low-carbon advantages of WISA-Spruce with BioBond technology. By incorporating this innovation to its ever-expanding collection of green architectural materials, they are demonstrating their ongoing commitment to supporting sustainable design and build. Commenting on the introduction of BioBond to the WISA-Spruce range, Nick Widlinski, Panels Director at Lathams says, “There’s no doubt timber and wood-based materials are helping architects and designers tackle global climate change through making lower-emission material choices. However, a question around the carbon intensity of glues and adhesives used in the production of engineered wood persists, and WISA BioBond tackles it head on. Its introduction and standardisation across the brand’s high-performance spruce range is a game-changer, offering the best quality with a reduced carbon footprint. Not only is it helping us to promote more sustainable construction methods, it’s also supporting a wider drive toward a Net Zero society.” UPM’s VP of Strategy and Business Development, Susanna Rinne, concludes, “Sustainability is at the heart of our ethos and guides our ongoing R&D. We are the first manufacturer in the world to use a lignin-based solution for spruce and birch plywood, offering a no-compromise sustainable material solution. It’s imperative we work with those who have similar values. Due to Lathams’ longstanding reputation for championing sustainable specification make them a great partner to help us introduce BioBond and its unique properties to the UK and Irish markets.” Providing further confidence in WISA-Spruce’s green credentials and certification, the product category scored one of the best ratings on Lathams’ new Carbon Calculator tool. An academically developed formula which scores the embodied carbon of each Lathams’-stocked timber product from cradle-to-purchase, BioBond WISA-Spruce achieved top ranking across the board, providing third party verifications for the material’s sustainability claims. To find out more about BioBond, WISA-Spruce and UPM’s wider collection of WISA plywood, click here. To discover Latham’s wide range of materials, and realise the potential for almost any design preference or requirement, click here.
The latest Timber Development UK (TDUK) statistics show record hardwood volumes were imported in May 2022. Overall import volumes for hardwood were up 25% in the period running from January to May 2022, relative to the same period in 2021. This increase in hardwood volumes has largely been driven by Latvia and France, with their totals growing 110% and 82% respectively. Tropical hardwoods have also seen growth, up 44%, with Cameroonian volumes leading in this category, increasing by 4,081m3 in 2022. Overall timber volumes were also high in May 2022, as volumes climbed over the million m3 mark for the first time since September 2021. This growth in the month was driven by higher volumes of softwood, hardwood, plywood and particleboard compared to May 2021, only OSB and MDF volumes were lower. Softwood imports remain 18% below the record levels seen in 2021. TDUK Head of Technical and Trade, Nick Boulton, said: “Though May 2022 totals resembled the record levels seen last year, the overall market position in 2022 is certainly more diverse than 2021. “Hardwood imports have been driven by the pallet and packaging trade which has begun to use lower-priced, more temperate hardwood species over typically used softwood. “The global logistics market is buoyant with demand outstripping the capacity to recirculate and where necessary repair existing pallet stocks. This means the demand for new wood pallets, bearers and dunnage are all at high levels, putting significant pressure on the available log supply and specialist mills that service this sector. “New sectors are also causing pressure on supply with wood fuel, for example, becoming a key driver of demand across Europe due to the energy insecurity caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Members can read the full statistics report here.
