From a purely environmental concern to a complex notion that encompasses a range of different facets; from lack of clarity to the empowering potential of transparency; from occasional virtue signalling to active engagement and attitudinal changes – the perception of sustainability has been undergoing an undeniable and dynamic shift. And as the global community firmly sets its eyes on the desperately needed goal of zero carbon by 2050, forest and wood products are naturally emerging as positive contributors to this important change – both locally, and on a global scale.
“Sustainability has always been one of the core values for the forest and wood products industry which interacts across the environmental, social and economic dimensions,” says Dr Alastair Woodard, the National Residential Construction and Fit-out Program Manager at Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), a not-for-profit company that provides national, integrated research and development services to the Australian forest and wood products industry.
Alastair points out that the notion of sustainability hasn’t necessarily changed – what has evolved is the industry’s language and messaging around the concept. This, he explains, is a reflection of an increased understanding of its multifaceted character by the government, the industry, the users and the markets – and a growing aspiration to embrace everything the concept of sustainability entails.
And while it’s an incredibly dynamic landscape, wood has been an obvious constant. “Wood from sustainably managed and renewable native or plantation forests is one of the most environmentally positive materials available,” Alastair says. “The forest and wood products industry has always championed the environment, in terms of active and positive ‘forest management practices’, to build the health and wellbeing of our forests, and their rich biodiversity, and protect against negative impacts such as wildfire and invasive plants and animals.”
But being a constant doesn’t necessarily imply lack of change – the perception around timber has been shifting, too. The appreciation of the role of sustainable and renewable native and plantation production forests in reducing negative climate change impacts is certainly something that has increased on a global scale – including from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s point of view. But that’s not all.
Timber has always been an incredibly desirable and valued product – both in residential construction and fit-out projects. Now, following robust industry research and development, and major code and NCC changes, it has become a valued option for commercial mid-rise projects for Class 2-9 buildings. “This has recently been acknowledged by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation with the establishment of their $300 million program to encourage mass timber construction across the property sector,” Alastair says.
Alastair notes that the wood products sector has also been one of the most consistent advocates for transparent, scientifically-based assessment of products and buildings across their full Life Cycle (LCA) – now a widely accepted approach exercised by the leading green building programs and tools globally.
“The industry today educates and promotes its strong environmental credentials of forest renewability, CO2 sequestration by trees, carbon storage in products, low embodied energy impacts in product manufacture, reuse & recyclability, and biomass energy-recovery opportunities, through a range of WoodSolutions technical resources and technology transfer initiatives,” Alastair says.
This educational drive is also expressed through a range of campaigns and initiatives, designed to highlight sustainability benefits of forests and wood products. “FWPA’s ‘The Ultimate Renewable™’ campaign is going to launch a new focus in 2022 in its efforts to provide information around the natural advantages of wood in the built environment, its workability, affordability, renewability, and positive contribution to reducing the effects of climate change,” Alastair explains. FWPA also backs Planet Ark, an Australian not-for-profit environmental organisation, which launched a campaign to encourage the increased use of responsibly sourced wood as a building material – and not only from an environmental, but also biophilic and user wellness perspective.
In addition, through the ongoing WoodSolutions programme, FWPA has published seven Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) presenting life cycle assessment data for a range of commonly used timber products. WoodSolutions is also in the process of developing a ‘WoodSolutions Technical Guide – The Role of Wood Products in Zero Carbon Buildings,’ which is set to become a go-to for any industry professional serious about understanding and contributing to a zero-carbon future.
The concept – alongside the notion of a ‘bio-based economy’ – are some of the most important goals the forest and wood products industry is gravitating towards where the future is concerned. “It’s a future where the environmental and sustainability metrics become as commonplace as some of the key manufacturing decision making and purchasing measures,” Alastair explains. A part of that is working towards educating communities, governments, and consumers on the incredible benefits of forest and wood products. “Not just their organic, tactile nature and beauty, but their true triple-bottom line sustainability benefits,” Alastair sums up.
Photo Credit: David Taylor. Studio Workshop Project: CONDEV Office Interior Fitout.
