Category Archives: Wood, Paper & Green Building

In 2009, Waugh Thistleton Architects oversaw the completion of Murray Grove, a nine-storey residential block with a superstructure of cross-laminated timber (CLT). …However … many argue that structural timber became a perceived risk in the post-Grenfell legislative review. In 2022 the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ruled – after a period of consultation – that structural timber was approved for use within the external walls of buildings between 11 and 18 metres. …using structural timber has once again become a focal topic. So much so, the task of de-risking the material and changing perception both inside and out of the profession is well under way. …Founder and Director of Waugh Thistleton, Anthony Thistleton-Smith, says there is a huge appetite to building in timber…. And not just for the carbon savings – further potential advantages include speed of construction, safety with deliveries, impact on local environments and – in his opinion – higher quality buildings.

In 2022, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from building operations and construction hit a new high, rising to 10 gigatonnes, according to a recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). That is 37 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. “Reducing the carbon footprint of our homes, offices and other buildings will be essential to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement and averting a climate catastrophe,” said Ruth Coutto, Acting Chief of Climate Mitigation at UNEP. She added that reducing building emissions must be part of a larger, more ambitious global effort to counter climate change. …Global building sector emissions are still rising, jumping one per cent between 2021 and 2022, found the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction. While that might not seem like much, it is equivalent to adding 10 million cars to the world’s roads. The report finds the sector remains off track to achieve decarbonization by 2050.

United Kingdom — Talk to any modern architect and chances are the subject of ‘social responsibility’ will arise at some point in the conversation. In the past, this likely referred to the curious idea that through the built environment architects could transcend mere practical concerns and be engineers of social change. In 2017, ‘social responsibility’ has more often come to mean sustainable buildings with a low-carbon footprint and in harmony with their natural surroundings. Maggie’s Oldham satisfies both sets of criteria. The building, which offers practical and emotional support to people living with cancer, is the first in the world to be made from hardwood cross-laminated timber (CLT). Designed by dRMM Architects with support from the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), it is constructed from tulipwood. Pioneered by dRMM, AHEC and design and engineering consultancy Arup, tulipwood is around 70% stronger in bending than a typical CLT-grade softwood.

NEW ZEALAND — A new 11-storey mass timber building—set to become NZ’s tallest commercial timber building—could rise in downtown Auckland after James Kirkpatrick Group lodged plans to redevelop 538 and 582 Karahgahape Rd (colloquially known as K-Rd) in the city district. According to a developer statement, the new tower is part of a push to “regenerate the site from a demolished, end-of-lift building into a robust and legible urban structure that can stand for the next 50 years.” James Kirkpatrick Jnr, the group CEO, said the building will… “encourage a high-quality tenant in line with some of the green initiatives required for their businesses or their clients”. Wood Central understands that the building will target a 6 Star Green Star rating, with Kirkpatrick turning to mass timber as an alternative to concrete, reducing emissions and the weight of the building.

EUROPE — PEFC’s Fashion from Sustainable Forests survey… found that 74% of consumers surveyed believe it’s important that clothes made from forest-derived fibres (known as MMCF, which stands for man-made cellulosic fibres) are sourced from sustainably managed forests. But only 25% of those surveyed believe brands are effectively addressing their concerns over the environmental impact of clothing made from these fibres. Some 71% of consumers would like to see a certification label and 59% would be willing to pay more for a garment made from a certified material. …That said, MMCFs are growing in popularity. PEFC said the MMCF market is predicted to grow from 6 billion to 10 billion tonnes over the next 15 years. Regulation means the industry needs to get on board too. The EU’s deforestation regulation (EUDR) is due to be enforced from the start of 2025, but recent research reveals that only 12% of brands currently publish time-bound measurable commitments to deforestation.

The British Columbia provincial government’s crown corporation, Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt Ltd (FII India), popularly known as Canadian Wood, successfully hosted an insightful seminar, titled ‘Canadian Wood – The Sustainable Solution’ in Indore. The event highlighted the importance and benefits of using Canadian Wood as a sustainable building material. The seminar featured distinguished speakers who shared their expertise and perspectives on sustainable building practices with certified wood species. Among the keynote speakers were leading architects, environmentalists, and industry experts. Ar. Puneet Pandey from Vima – The Dimension discussed the growing importance of sustainability in construction with wood and how Canadian Wood can play a pivotal role in reducing the environmental impact of building projects. Dr. Jimmy Thomas, Assistant Director Technical Services, Canadian Wood, opened the session with an in-depth informative session on sustainability and certification from B.C. Canada and dwelling more into sustainable forestry practices.

Dr Valerio Beni is developing eco-friendly electronics such as sensors and circuit boards. An expert in green chemistry at Swedish research institute RISE, Beni is using wood from pulp in a bid to make consumer electronic devices that have no carbon footprint and are easier to recycle. …He leads a research project that received EU funding to explore ways to make consumer electronics with wood-based materials. Called HyPELignum, the project runs for four years through September 2026… The life cycles of current electronics are unsustainable. In addition to the energy and raw materials needed for production, the gadgets result in mountains of waste once they get discarded. …As an alternative, the HyPELignum team is developing two types of wooden circuit board. …‘Wood and biogenic materials are more or less zero in terms of CO2 impact,’ he said. ‘They absorb CO2 to grow and then they release the same CO2 when used.’

John Stulen

Today’s announcements on growing the forestry sector from Forestry Minister Todd McClay will resonate with industry leaders across forestry and wood products sector, says FIEA events director John Stulen. “With our sector delivering the most carbon-friendly set of exports and benefits to land use all while reducing New Zealand’s carbon emissions compared to other materials, it’s great to see Government showing it wants to grow the sector. “Everything we do for industry aligns with the intent of today’s vision from the Minister.” “It all happens when we delivering our Environmental Forestry, Wood Residues, Carbon Forestry, ForestTECH and WoodWorks events. These technology conferences focus on bringing leaders and innovators together with practical foresters, sawmillers and mass timber construction managers for growing the sector’s productivity and output.” “Our FIEA technology conference team looks forward advancing forestry with the continued support of the Ministry of Forestry, industry leaders and our innovators and service providers.”

LONDON — In the heart of the London borough of Greenwich, a decorative, latticed tower stands proud. …The fact that the three-storey viewing pavilion is designed to resemble a typical Victorian terraced house is about more than just creating a relatable aesthetic. The tower showcases a building material that is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in the UK and Europe. It represents an industry shift in sentiment around timber use, one that is starting to encourage developers to, quite literally, think outside the box. From lower carbon emissions to faster construction schedules—not to mention creating spaces that bring a greater sense of nature and well-being to those who spend time in and around them—the benefits of looking beyond more commonly used materials such as steel and concrete have sparked a wave of ambitious, new developments.