Category Archives: Wood, Paper & Green Building

HELSINKI, Finland — A groundbreaking investigation by researchers at the University of Helsinki is shedding new light on the relationship between wood surface treatments and bacterial survival, revealing profound implications for both public health and material science. The study meticulously analyzed how untreated and chemically treated wood surfaces influence the adhesion, survival, and transmission of bacterial species commonly found in indoor environments. This research challenges conventional perspectives on surface hygiene and opens avenues for reconsidering material use in everyday settings ranging from homes to healthcare environments. The research primarily focused on two bacterial species: Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. …By studying these organisms, the research team was able to capture a spectrum of bacterial behaviors and survival strategies on different wood substrates. …Although the study’s scope was limited, its findings offer valuable preliminary insights into the wider implications of material selection in construction and interior design.

AUSTRALIA — When Aaron started The Good Builder, he expected the hard part would be building an audience. Instead, one of his first lessons came from a quiet meeting in a Brisbane café with someone who had spent decades inside Australia’s timber and forestry sector. That meeting was with Christine Briggs, a Queenslander and long time timber industry leader who now works with WoodSolutions, a national industry initiative focused on technical guidance, research and practical tools for designers and builders. In a recent episode of The Good Builder podcast, Ng spoke with Briggs about the future of timber framing, why sustainability messaging is still underused by builders, and how “what’s behind the walls” may become a bigger trust signal in a sector struggling with confidence. The conversation was part industry education, part marketing workshop, and part reality check for a building market that is increasingly shaped by social media scrutiny, shifting regulation, and clients who want proof, not polish.

The skyline in Sydney, Australia, is undergoing a transformation as Atlassian Central nears completion. This ambitious “plyscraper” is set to become the world’s tallest hybrid timber tower, reaching a staggering height of 183 meters. For comparison, the previous record-holder, Milwaukee’s Ascent, stands at 86.6 meters. Designed by BVN and SHoP Architects, the tower utilizes a hybrid structural system that combines concrete and steel with engineered wood. …While buildings like Norway’s Mjøstårnet rely more exclusively on timber, Atlassian Central incorporates significant steel and concrete components. This combination provides the structural stability required to support a 39-story frame. The project incorporates approximately 10,000 cubic meters of engineered wood. This includes glued-laminated timber columns and cross-laminated timber slabs, which are being imported from Europe. These timber elements are integrated into the floor plates and internal support structures of the tower.

Timber Development UK (TDUK) has published the 2026 Embodied Carbon data for Timber Products. This provides the average carbon data for the 11 major timber product categories. A fully updated version of the 2025 information, the data allows designers to weigh up the carbon impacts of their material choices. The figures clearly show how selecting a particular timber product will affect the embodied carbon of a design, with many UK sourced timber products having a lower A1-A4 embodied carbon impact than their imported counterparts. This independently verified information calculates weighted average upfront A1-A4 embodied carbon data for all of the most common timber products used in the UK – both including and excluding biogenic carbon, and also includes a stored biogenic carbon figure for the product. The new publication now also includes end-of-life C1-C4 embodied carbon impacts.

One of the UK’s leading bodies advancing the study and application of wood science – the Institute of Wood Science (IWSc) – has reached its 70th anniversary. The IWSc was established on December 8, 1955, after the UK timber trade recognised the need to keep up with wood science, and to capitalise on emerging technology through increased knowledge and training. …In 1958 the Institute established the world-renowned Journal of the Institute of Wood Science. Over the period to 2009, there were 104 editions, containing more than 1,000 papers, articles and technical contributions – providing a substantial and lasting body of professional knowledge in wood science. In 2010 the Journal was re-branded as the International Wood Products Journal and continues to be published with 4 issues a year. …2009 saw the IWSc merge with the IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining). Its membership, activities, publications and expertise were incorporated into the larger institute’s structure.

Opening on Monday 9 March, The New Wood: Building a bio-based future exhibition showcases how cutting-edge wood-based materials are transforming everyday products — from textiles and packaging to cosmetics, chemicals, and even car tyres. The exhibition demonstrates that bio-based alternatives are no longer experimental. They are market-ready, scalable, and already replacing fossil-based materials. Highlights of the exhibition include designer sanitary ware made from a unique wood composite with a carbon footprint up to 80% lower than comparable ceramic products. Visitors at The Garrison Chapel, The King’s Foundation’s exhibition space in London, can also learn how forest resources are sustainably transformed into cosmetics. In an industry worth £400 billion, cellulose-based hydrogel allows products to be made with up to 80% fewer chemicals and lower energy use. Waterless, biodegradable, and renewable, the wood-derived hydrogel on display is designed to replace multiple fossil-based ingredients in everyday beauty products.

HCM CITY — Canadian Wood Vietnam, part of Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) – a provincial agency of the Government of British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, has recently reaffirmed its commitment to the Vietnamese wood industry by maintaining a consistent presence across key industry platforms. Canadian Wood Vietnam is dedicated to enhancing networking activities, sharing information, and fostering professional exchanges within Việt Nam’s wood and furniture industry. In addition to promoting trade, Canadian Wood Vietnam works closely with manufacturers in Việt Nam by offering technical support, training programmes, and facilitating market development initiatives that link businesses with reputable Canadian softwood suppliers and provide valuable insights into softwood species from British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. These ongoing efforts aim to assist Vietnamese manufacturers in strengthening their product development capabilities, refining design applications, and enhancing value creation. 

JELD-WEN, a leading manufacturer of specialist timber doorsets, has confirmed that “wood used in its manufacturing comes from 100% responsible sources in all its UK operations” – placing it well ahead of targets to demonstrate sustainable wood sourcing by 2030 as part of net zero goals. Both of JELD-WEN’s UK sites in Sheffield and Penrith use timber from forests awarded with Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, placing UK operations at the forefront of sustainable sourcing within the JELD-WEN portfolio. This is the latest sustainability milestone achieved by the manufacturer, helping to protect against deforestation, as well as ensuring JELD-WEN products are not produced at the expense of ecosystems or other natural resources – and that the rights of local communities are protected.

©BKStructures

United Kingdom — Specialists in engineered timber and hybrid construction, B&K Hybrid Solutions (BKHS), have played a pivotal role in the creation of Cozenton Park Sports Centre; a state-of-the-art leisure facility that exemplifies sustainable and innovative design. The project, located in Medway, replaced the ageing 1990s pool complex with an energy-efficient and aesthetically striking hybrid structure, setting a benchmark for leisure developments in the UK. … BKHS were appointed to manufacture and install the hybrid engineered timber and steelwork elements which underpin the facility’s design, combining the visual appeal and natural warmth of timber with the strength of steel. Working in collaboration with specialist supply chain partners Stora Enso for the Cross Laminated Timber and Rubner for the glulam components, BKHS delivered a precision-engineered solution tailored to the project’s sustainability and performance goals. …The pool hall features glulam columns and beams measuring 1,700 by 240mm at 5m intervals, creating a clear 26.3m span. 

Modern timber construction can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of buildings compared to conventional materials, such as concrete and steel, whose energy‑intensive production contributes to a large share of the sector’s emissions. Wood sequesters carbon throughout its life cycle … and avoids an additional 1.1-1.5 tonnes of emissions when substituting for concrete or steel. Despite wood’s green credentials, scaling up timber construction … requires value chains and a trained workforce that understands its properties, building techniques and appropriate applications. LIFE WOOD for Future is addressing this knowledge gap by supporting universities, vocational schools and training centres. The project develops wood-based curricula for architects, engineers and technicians, as well as practical pathways for construction workers and local SMEs to integrate wood into design and construction. By linking academic knowledge with hands-on training, the LIFE project demonstrates how wood-based buildings can be designed and built safely, efficiently and sustainably, increasing the likelihood of greater adoption.