Woodknowledge Wales

Woodknowledge Wales

Inspiring innovation through collaboration

Manufacturing

PRESS RELEASE: Huw Irranca-Davies to address wood value chain members at WoodBUILD 2024

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From farming and forestry, through processing and manufacturing, to designing and building homes, Wales’ wood value chain will work together towards a more resilient future for our environment and the Welsh people

29 May 2024, Cardiff, UK: On 2 July 2024 at 9:30AM, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change & Rural Affairs (Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd) will present to participants from across the wood value chain at WoodBUILD 2024. Hosted by Woodknowledge Wales, this year’s conference will be held in at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David IQ Building in Swansea from 2-3 July.

“I’m delighted that the new The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change & Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, will be making the keynote address on day one of our conference. Now with responsibility for both the Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals and the emerging Timber Industrial Strategy, his perspective should be of huge interest to our network, from forestry through to timber construction. WoodBUILD, since its inception in 2016, has always been well supported by Welsh Government with past Ministerial addresses from Julie James MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, in her previous roles as Housing Minister and then as Minister for Climate Change.” Gary Newman, CEO, Woodknowledge Wales.

In addition to the Ministerial address, WoodBUILD participants can look forward to a keynote speech from Paul King, CEO, Built by Nature, an industry leader debate on how to create more resilient wood value chains, an update from Welsh Government on progress towards Wales’ first Timber Industrial Strategy, two book launches, and a host of useful and insightful workshops, demonstrations, immersive experiences and exhibits.

Farmers and foresters must stick together

In The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change & Rural Affairs’ recent written cabinet statement on the Future of Farming in Wales, published on 14 May 2024, he wrote that the Welsh Government, working with Farming Connect, will: “…continue to promote the benefits and opportunities of tree cover and woodland on farms and work on knowledge transfer…” and delayed the transition from the Basic Payment Scheme to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) until 2026.

There has been a great deal of unbalanced media speculation following the farming protests earlier this year, which culminated in rallies outside the Welsh Senedd. The popular press tends to single out the 10 per cent tree-planting target under the draft Sustainable Farming Scheme as the main impetus behind these protests. However, a recent article, written by Deputy Editor Jack Haugh and published in the Forestry Journal on 1 May, calls this out as unfair bias. In the article, Huw Morris, a woodland estate manager with a farming heritage rooted in Powys, notes that tree-planting is just “one small issue among many things” and, while Morris does not believe trees on farms will be purposely planted to produce timber, he does make it clear that “Farmers and foresters…[ ]… need to stick together, and not be pitted against one another. Singling out tree planting is an easy way to demonise farmers. We need to balance the message because it’s not really what the protests are about.”

Woodknowledge Wales works across the wood value chain with a mission to purposefully develop Wales’ forest industries from tree to product to benefit the economy, the environment and the people of Wales. Well considered land use, and co-operation between farmers and foresters, is essential to this mission.

How to create more resilient wood value chains

The WoodBUILD conference and expo brings together wood value chain stakeholders to discuss progress and consider next best steps towards an economic and environmentally beneficial forest industry for Wales. Woodknowledge Wales stakeholders include land users who plant trees, all the way through primary and secondary processors and timber product and timber frame manufacturers, to representatives from the built environment sector who build with timber. These include professionals focused on designing, manufacturing and building homes using both traditional and innovative construction models and social housing developers responsible for commissioning Welsh homes.

This year, the conference will also include a day two keynote presentation from Paul King, CEO of Built by Nature, a network and grant-making fund dedicated to accelerating the timber building transformation in Europe. This keynote presentation will be followed by an industry leader debate between Paul King, Charlotte Hale (CEO, SO Modular), Jonathan Poynton (MD, Pontrilas Sawmills), and Tim Clement (Director of Social Value & Sustainability, Morgan Sindall Construction): How to create more resilient wood value chains and rise up to tomorrow’s challenges in the spirit of collaboration, 09:30 – 11:00, 3 July.

A Timber Industrial Strategy for Wales

Home Grown Homes project (HGH) (Prosiect Cartrefi O Bren Lleol) is a key project for Woodknowledge Wales. Supported by Welsh Government, one of the current phase two project tasks focuses on assisting in the development of the emerging Timber Industrial Strategy. WoodBUILD 2024 participants, can therefore also look forward to the day two Welsh Government workshop update on the progress of its Timber Industrial Strategy for Wales: The Timber Industrial Strategy: Making wood work for Wales, 14:00, 3 July.

Two new authors salute Super Sitka as a woodland hero

Images: The Sitka spruce A) as depicted in Figure 6.3, Timber! by Paul Brannen (2024, p98, Source: Shutterstock) B) Illustrated by Emily Hocking in Jenny Bailey’s storybook, ‘Sitka the Amazing Timber Tree’ (2024, p4)

Also, at WoodBUILD 2024, participants will enjoy the Welsh launch of two new timber-focused books. Paul Brannen’s new book, ‘Timber! How wood can help save the world from climate breakdown’ and Jenny Bailey’s children’s picture book and audio book, ‘Sitka the Amazing Timber Tree’ published in both Welsh and English. Both books salute the Sitka spruce as a woodland hero, rightfully reframing the narrative around what was once a poster species for long-ago defunct forest monoculture planting practices.

“…although much-maligned, given the climate and latitude of the UK, no tree can grow faster, and no tree can absorb more carbon dioxide while at the same time producing good-quality commercial timber”, writes Paul Brannen, Timber!, (Agenda Publishing, 27 June 2024, p99, now available to pre-order)

“As the tree of choice for forestry across the country, I’ve been growing here for 40 years, and now my timbers are straight and mature, just right for what you need for building and creating your environment”, says the Sitka spruce, as personified by Jenny Bailey in ‘Sitka the Amazing Timber Tree’ (Tales from Mother Earth™, 2024, p3)

Paul and Jenny will both be available at WoodBuild, so you can speak directly with the authors, grab your copies and get them signed while networking and enjoying the broader industry knowledge share workshops.

About WoodBUILD 2024

WoodBUILD 2024 will engage Timber and Construction Industry stakeholders in a collaborative effort to build new, multi-disciplinary business opportunities and regenerative solutions. Sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction, Wales & West Housing, The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) and Welsh Government, participants will enjoy two days of knowledge share, debate, networking and exhibitions. Conference tickets are on sale via the WoodBUILD registration page. Find out more about WoodBUILD and keep up with exciting additions to the programme by signing up to the Woodknowledge Wales newsletter and via the Woodknowledge Wales news pages.

Making Wood Work for Wales

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Wales Climate Week zoom session, 11:15-12:15, 6 December

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A thriving timber industry offers economic, environmental and social benefits to Wales. Opportunities exist all along the supply chain, from nurseries through forest management, harvesting, restocking, sawmilling, right through to the end-use of timber, for example in construction or furniture.

Join session chair, Huwel Manley, operations manager for Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as he hosts a remote panel discussion focused around how to make wood work for Wales. Panel members will include Woodknowledge Wales’ CEO, Gary Newman, Elaine Harrison, National Manager Wales at Confor: Confederation of Forest Industries (UK) and Steve Cranston, Project Lead for Welsh Government’s Delivering Net Zero.

This Wales Climate Week session will open by showcasing companies in Wales who use timber and who have chosen to put fairness at the heart of their operating models. The panel members will then discuss the actions needed to promote a healthy, growing timber industry in Wales.

  • How can the use of timber accelerate decarbonisation of the natural and built environments?
  • How can we deliver low-carbon housing in Wales through the use of Welsh grown timber? 
  • How can we encourage inclusive recruitment and retention in an industry with a huge range of jobs, skills and careers on offer?

Want to know more about the Welsh timber industry, carbon sequestration within timber products, timber training and careers?

This session will be of interest to anyone who:

  • would like to know more about the environmental, economic and social benefits offered by the Welsh timber industry.
  • are interested in reducing embodied carbon in construction, in taking a whole life-cycle approach which recognises carbon sequestration within timber products. 
  • are keen to learn about the breadth of different training, jobs and career paths across Wales and to explore inclusive approaches to employment.

Speakers

  • Elaine Harrison. National Manager for Wales. Confor (Confederation of Forest Industries).
  • Gary Newman. Chief Executive. Woodknowledge Wales.
  • Steve Cranston. Project Lead – Delivering Net Zero.
  • Huwel Manley. Head of Operations South West Wales. Natural Resources Wales.

Full speakers bios can be found at the Wales Climate Week Virtual Conference Programme

Format of the session

11:15-11:20Introduction
11:20-11:30Watch newly filmed case study videos from:
– timber contractors: Williams Homes,
– timber frame manufacturers: SO Modular, and
– award winning social enterprise: Down to Earth
11:30 – 11:55Q&A open panel discussion
12:10-12:15Sum up and close

Register now at Wales Climate Week (gov.wales) where you can also view the rest of the virtual conference agenda and other available resources.

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CoP update: Joiners Community of Practice

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Newly launched CoP to focus on market differentiation, skills and how to make the joinery sector more engaging

Our new joiners Community of Practice (CoP) launched mid-November with a mix of different sized businesses participating. 

Those present expressed interest in being part of the Community so they might hear from others, discuss individual challenges, and learn about how to leverage opportunities. A number of topics for further discussion came up during this initial meeting. These included the challenges associated with market competition driven by imports from Europe and market differentiation. CoP members also want to discuss how they can support one another and their industry. In particular, they wish to look for opportunity around skills and recruitment, and how to attract and engage newcomers into the joinery sector.

Joinery businesses interested in discussing opportunities and challenges of skills and recruitment are encouraged to join the next meeting on 30th November, 9-10am via Zoom.  On the agenda:

  • Challenge: What is your biggest challenge – recruitment overall or lack of skilled people?
  • Recruitment: Are you or have you been experiencing any recruitment challenges? Is / was this impacting on your business? If so, how? Have you developed a process to mitigate this? If so, what does it look like?
  • Skills: Do you need to train new employees? Do you have a training programme for all staff? Do you have any working relationship with local colleges/universities?
  • Potential: If you had complete power, what would your top three actions be to turn this challenge into an opportunity?

Results of the discussion will inform a report on skills across all sectors of the wood value chain as part of the Home Grown Homes Project. 

If you are unable to attend but would like to share your views and experience with us, please contact christiane.lellig@woodknowledgewales.co.uk.

Circular wood use for accelerated global decarbonisation

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New research calls for cross-sectoral coordination to maximize net zero benefits of wood recycling

Perhaps not just a pile of old pallets or biomass?

Whilst less than 1% of waste wood goes to landfill in the UK, a new study published in Nature Communications proposes further efficiencies. A team of researchers from Bangor University, the University of Galway in Ireland and Woodknowledge Wales, analysed the whole life cycle of the current timber value chain. They believe collaboration and system change is needed to achieve even longer sequestration of the carbon locked within timber already in use within the supply chain.

The full paper, Circular wood use can accelerate global decarbonisation but requires cross-sectoral coordination [1], was written by Eilidh Forster, John Healey, Gary Newman and David Styles. It was published online by Nature Communications on 25 October 2023 and is open access. The original press release can be read via Bangor University’s news page. [2]

“The UK is currently able to produce only a fraction of the wood it requires yet recovered wood ‘waste’ is an under-valued resource. Improved transparency, reporting and management of recovered wood could create a multitude of circular business opportunities.” Eilidh Forster, lead author and PhD researcher, Bangor University

Enhancing the benefits of timber towards net zero

Wood harvested from sustainably managed forests is an important source of renewable biomaterial and global demand for wood is forecast to increase by up to 170% by 2050. In 2022, UK timber imports cost £11.5 billion.

Carbon captured during tree growth is retained in wood from harvested trees. The manufacture of timber products already tends to minimise greenhouse gas emissions relative to the manufacture of materials such as concrete and steel. Additionally, timber products are excellent carbon stores throughout the full life cycle of those products.

The benefits of timber towards net zero can be enhanced further by applying the principles of the circular economy. By identifying new ways to use, then reuse timber, before reusing that wood again – perhaps in the form of chipboard or wood fibre – there is huge potential to extend the service life of wood. By doing so, that captured atmospheric carbon is stored within that wood. Additionally, reusing wood in this ‘cascading’ manner (a concept introduced and explained in detail in Forster et al’s first paper [3]) brings down the demand for fresh supplies. As a result, there are also increased net carbon sequestration gains from reduced harvesting of virgin wood and reduced transport costs for timber imports.

Biogenic carbon material flow from wood harvest going to Hierarchical or ‘cascading’ use [2, Figure 3]

A circular or cascading wood flow as shown in the reproduced Figure above, delivers multiplied efficiencies in the journey to net zero. The report presents results that indicate a circular approach to recycling medium-density fibreboard (MDF) in the UK alone could deliver ‘75% more cumulative climate-change mitigation by 2050’ when compared with the current, ‘business-as-usual’ single-use approach. In combination with the complementary, if slower, long-term benefits of planting new forests for wood production, the cumulative effects of these two approaches alone could mitigate 258.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Which equals 61% of the total of net territorial emissions of the UK in the single year of 2021.

“Planting new production forests to meet future wood demand is a very important priority for achieving net zero, however it will take several decades for this benefit to be realised, and we can’t afford to wait that long to reduce the current rate of global warming. Therefore, we also need to act urgently to increase the efficiency with which we reuse current wood products to reduce the pressure that we are placing on global forests to meet our needs.” John Healey, study co-author and Professor of Forest Sciences, Bangor University

System change needed to maximise potential benefits of timber

The new research highlights that, while there are many potential benefits for net zero to be leveraged further, the current UK timber manufacturing system incorporates significant barriers that will first need to be overcome. The aims of the paper were to highlight these barriers and propose solutions that might enable maximum efficiency towards net zero across the timber value chain.

The researchers cite uncertainty of land-use subsidies, poor transparency of material flow through the value chain, and a lack of agreed circularity metrics among other barriers. They also note that low public awareness means the industry isn’t under social pressure and that this, in turn, has enabled conservatism towards change. To resolve these issues, the authors recommend industry collaboration towards cross-sector co-ordination, government intervention on matters such as compulsory deconstruction planning requirements for the built environment, and extended responsibility from manufacturers across the entire life cycle of their products.

“To substantially increase the efficiency of the whole system will require some significant changes in the wood using industries in UK, backed-up by better-targeted government policies, to substantially improve their co-ordination from afforestation to better wood recovery and reuse.” David Styles, study co-author and Associate Professor in Agri-sustainability, University of Galway.

Use, reuse, and reuse again before end-of-life biomass

Currently, a huge proportion of our out-of-service timber products are burnt as biomass to generate heat or electricity. The research team point out that there is opportunity to re-use or recycle these products several times prior to what should be perceived only as a final, end-of-life use as biomass.

Collect, recycle, reuse – striving for a zero-waste economy Source: Circular Economy, Kronospan

There are already several pioneering projects here in Wales that do employ circular thinking to timber reuse with great success. Particleboard manufacturers are increasing their use of recycled wood chips and innovative methods are being used to recover wood fibres from MDF board recovered from residential demolition. Recovered wood fibres can then be used as insulation, locking in the carbon for many more tens of years again within new build homes. If installed with recovery in mind, this same insulation might then be recoverable for further use in the next generation of new builds. This circular thinking can extend the use of the original harvested tree for hundreds more years.

“Moving to a circular economy is difficult but essential if we are to meet both our decarbonisation targets as well as our future resource needs. This paper shows the size of the win and makes practical suggestions for how we might get there. Woodknowledge Wales is an experiment in the kind of cross-sector coordination advocated by this research.” Gary Newman, study co-author and Chief Executive of Woodknowledge Wales.

References

1: Forster, E. J., Healey, J. R., Dymond, C. & Styles, D. , Circular wood use can accelerate global decarbonisation but requires cross-sectoral coordination. Nature Communications, 14:6766, (2023) DOI 10.1038/s41467-023-42499-6

2: Recycling used wood can make a big contribution to net zero but it needs much better coordination, Press Release, https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/ [Accessed 26 October 2023]

3: Forster, E. J., Healey, J. R., Dymond, C. & Styles, D. Commercial afforestation can deliver effective climate change mitigation under multiple decarbonisation pathways. Nature Communications, 12:3831 (2021) DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-24084-x

Further reading

Innovation Challenge | WoodBUILD Podcast with Rob Thomas and Matt Stevenson

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Podcast

Rob Thomas and Matt Stevenson are two innovators with a passion for working with timber in all its forms. In this podcast, recorded earlier this year, they join David Hedges for a conversation about why we innovate, collaboration and partnership, ingredients for and tests of success, the curse of the pilot, the role of Government and regulation and a lot more besides. Rob and Matt are keen to work with other like minded people and they offer an open invitation to listeners to get in touch if they have an idea they want to explore.

Guests

Matt Stevenson
 Rob Thomas
Contact Matt via email: matt@ecosystemstech.com Contact Rob via email: rob@hiraetharchitecture.co.uk

 

The new timber sales and marketing plan: Small processors and access to timber on Welsh Government Woodland Estate

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NRW’s Timber Sales & Marketing Plan (2021-2026) can offer opportunities for the small timber processing community in Wales. The purpose of this paper is to interpret the Plan and its implications for small sawmillers. This will create a solid foundation for exploring the means by which small processors may be able access timber grown on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate in the future as well as highlight opportunities for future activities and interventions.
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Unlocking the full potential of offsite manufactured timber housing in Wales: The Challenge of timber price volatility

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Unprecedented price volatility of timber is constraining the development of the timber frame manufacturing sector. This threatens the delivery of Welsh Government’s affordable housing, MMC and zero carbon strategies. The purpose of this paper is to highlight issues of concern and offer first ideas to develop potential solutions.
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Zero Carbon Homes—Zero Carbon Timber Solutions for Wales

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What is the zero carbon timber housing solution for Wales?
This document proposes a range of timber build solutions. Results are based on the analysis of an appropriate and future proofed definition for ‘zero carbon’, followed by design and calculation to develop an understanding of the quantifiable factors of embodied and operational carbon. Using a fabric first approach, an examination of existing and alternative timber construction methods, materials and systems offers a range of developed timber solutions that are capable of meeting the target fabric specification. These include information on whole carbon emission and offsetting calculations for a range of key typologies demonstrating the routes to Zero.
The detailed report presents findings from the Home-Grown Homes Project including actions for further detailed design, training and skills, technical development and testing, design and modelling tools. These may be relevant for designers, manufacturers, specifiers and clients.
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5 Essential Strategies for an Emerging Forest Nation

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Wales is not a forest nation. Wales is a sheep, beef and dairy nation. Wales is a steel nation.
Like many nations, Wales is the economic country it is, not by political design but largely because of historical accident. And there has never been a better time or more reason to change. We have left the European Union and have also declared a Climate Emergency. A more purposeful approach is now required to achieve the net zero carbon goals set by Welsh Government
Therefore, we are proposing five integrated strategies for how Wales can achieve a just transition to become a new high-value forest nation. A transition that would create substantial employment and a transition for which Wales has many natural advantages.
Wales has suitable and available land for afforestation, fantastic climate for growing the kind of trees that industry needs, the land and workforce for new industries and proximity to almost limitless export markets for high-value timber products.
Wales must move towards more sustainable low-carbon industrial and land-use options that are geared to meeting the resource needs of the low-carbon society and that are economically viable.
Wales is starting from a long way back. This paper sets out how our slow start can be turned to our strategic advantage if Welsh Government decides to lead in the adoption of integrated economic policies outlined in this paper that are purposefully aligned across our construction, manufacturing and land-use sectors.
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The role of our own conifer forests for building a sustainable society in Wales

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Despite wide recognition of their value, plantation forests are critically misunderstood and undervalued in Wales. Plantation forests comprise around 7% of the planet’s forest area whilst sustainably supplying over 50% of industrial roundwood. This report looks at myths and tropes around home-grown timber and considers research results from wood science and socio-economic aspects across planting, forest management, timber grading and processing.
Modern British sustainable forest management techniques were established 150 years ago and are still appropriate for efficiently growing construction grade softwoods. Exemplar stands of high grade Douglas fir in north Wales grow some of the largest conifer trees existing in Europe. Older conifer stands across Wales have great potential to produce high grade joinery softwood. Sitka spruce forests are routinely denigrated, nevertheless over 95% of Welsh spruce sawlogs can be graded to strength class from C16 to C27 because of Sitka spruce’s high strength to weight ratio. Yet, quality is regularly used as a weasel word in order to reinforce negative views about Welsh homegrown softwoods.
The FAO reported in 2013 that current trends in European forest management could result in an over-supply of wood from broadleaved species, as well as a shortfall of coniferous timber. Planted forests are exposed to socio-economic risks due to governance failures. These risks comprise a weak or inadequate forest policy framework including insecure investment conditions.
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