Woodknowledge Wales

Woodknowledge Wales

Inspiring innovation through collaboration

Structural Timber

Research project launches to increase traceability and transparency in mass timber supply chains

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Built by Nature, a network and grant-making fund with a mission to accelerate the timber and biobased building transformation, has awarded €330,000 to three projects from its first Challenge initiative. The “From Forest to Frame” Challenge was launched in November of 2022 with the goal to increase the transparency around the climate impacts of decisions made along the bio-based construction value chain.

IMPACTT – Innovative Mapping and Processes to Advance Construction Timber Transparency

One of these projects is IMPACTT – Innovative Mapping and Processes to Advance Construction Timber Transparency. ASBP is the project lead, with a team consisting of Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC UK), DoubleHelix Tracking Technologies, Agrodome in the Netherlands, Woodknowledge Wales, Stora Enso, and Eurban, with support from CEI-Bois and TDUK.

“Woodknowledge Wales is delighted to support this exciting project. We know from our work with construction professionals throughout the UK, that whilst the benefits of timber as a material are increasingly well understood, the role of the forest in providing that timber and the impact on critically important ecosystem services such as biodiversity, is generally poorly understood. This creates the space for negative counter narratives about trees and timber. This project will help to put biodiversity information alongside carbon data to help clients and specifiers in their decision making and impact reporting.” Gary Newman, CEO

Overlaying biodiversity and forest data onto the PEFC Certification system

The aim of IMPACTT is to investigate how we might overlay biodiversity data and forest data onto the PEFC Certification system.

“We aim to find six mass timber buildings from the UK and the Netherlands where we can trace back the mass timber elements to forests where there has been active biodiversity measurement, monitoring, and management. We want to bring the forest of origin much closer to the building and will investigate how a QR code situated on the building might bring this additional information about the forest to the building user,” said the ASBP press office.

PEFC is the world’s largest certification system for sustainable forest-based products, with over 280 million hectares of certified forests. The PEFC scheme undergoes regular revisions every seven years, with the last revision having been completed in 2020. For the next revision, PEFC are considering integrating carbon and biodiversity impacts into their programmes and so this project could have a significant impact on the implementation of these changes.

“PEFC UK is delighted to be part of the team for this project, the results of which could have a positive influence on the direction of future revisions of PEFC’s global standards. With forthcoming legislation in some regions requiring complete supply chain mapping, the timing and scope of the project should provide invaluable information on the solutions to achieve fully traceable, sustainable timber supply chains.” John Kirkby, Executive Director

Addressing information gaps in the mass timber supply chain

IMPACTT will also explore ways to address information gaps in the mass timber supply chain and enable better visualisation using digital supply chain mapping tools. This work will be led by DoubleHelix. In addition, we will conduct interviews with industry stakeholders to gauge their understanding of the fundamentals of sustainable forest management, with the aim of understanding where the learning gaps are and then suggest resources to fill those gaps.

DoubleHelix is excited to lead the digital supply chain mapping efforts for the IMPACTT project, paving the way for true transparency in timber sourcing. We believe that bridging the gap between the forest of origin and the end user will revolutionize how the public understand and value sustainable forest management.” Darren Thomas, CEO

Introducing IMPACTT at UK Construction Week

We are introducing IMPACTT at UK Construction Week in Birmingham NEC on 5th October at 14.10 in the Sustainability Hub, with speakers from ASBP, PEFC UK, DoubleHelix and Stora Enso. The ASBP team will be on stand T444 over the three days and we have convened two other talks: please see here for the details https://asbp.org.uk/upcomingevents

“As built environment professionals are getting to grips with carbon emissions to help mitigate the climate emergency, innovation’s focus shifts to the nature emergency and how the structures we are creating today impact biodiversity via their supply chains. Part of the global bioeconomy, Stora Enso are honoured to be collaborating with this project team to demystify the mass timber journey from seedling to building.” Dr Mila Duncheva, MCIOB, Business Development Manager of UK & Ireland

Further Forest to Frame Challenge projects

The other two projects funded under the Forest to Frame Challenge are led by UK based research and education consultancy EVOLVING FORESTS and W/E consultants in the Netherlands. Evolving Forests will produce a series of curated films and media content to enhance the understanding of different stakeholders’ roles within the timber value-chain, and to build their understanding of sustainable forestry. Stichting W/E adviseurs duurzaam bouwen (W/E Consultants) will work to generate better carbon accountability within the European cross-laminated timber value chain by proposing new and accurate calculation methods.

Biodiversity measurement is a fast evolving science and Biodiversity Net Gain’s (BNG) transitional arrangements were due to close in November 2023, with BNG delivery to become a mandatory requirement for the vast majority of housebuilders and developers on all developments in the UK. However, the government has just delayed putting this into effect. Mass timber has the potential to reduce the embodied impact of construction versus more conventional materials such as concrete and steel. It is strong and light, and as a natural material, has a strong aesthetic appeal. This work follows on from our Mass Timber Insurance Playbook, which is a free download from our website.

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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Making the Right Choices—A Guide to Improving the Build Quality of New Build Timber Frame Social Housing

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Making the right decisions for the benefit of a building’s long term performance and user experience can be compromised by cost, lack of experience, and poor understanding of timber frame construction.
This guide aims to highlight some of the key points to consider along the pathway of designing, constructing and maintaining timber frame housing.
These points have been compiled reflecting on experience gained by delivering BMTRADA’s frameCHECK on-site quality consultancy service.
By helping the reader understand more about the consequences of some of the decisions to be made during construction.
This report has been compiled as part of the Home-Grown Homes Project, which looked into the way that timber is specified and used in construction, with its focus being on manufacturing. The aim of this document is to help all those involved with timber frame construction to deliver better performing and longer lasting homes.
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Grŵp Cynefin video about benefits of building with timber

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Video from Grŵp Cynefin explaining the benefits of choosing to build with timber. In this video see the project under way at the former Buckley Medical Centre, in the town centre. The £2.2m two-storey timber-framed building will comprise 14 two- and ten one-bedroom apartments and is being developed in partnership with Flintshire County Council.

Professor Callum Hill’s update on the positive environmental impact of wood 2016

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In a review of the environmental impact of wood products, leading Welsh wood scientist, Callum Hill shows that timber products lock-up more carbon than is used in their production. The study also shows that generic embodied carbon data quoted from independent databases such as the Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE) tend to underestimate the benefit of wood.

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Welsh Softwoods in Construction – Revised edition, March 2016

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This research was undertaken by Woodknowledge Wales to identify the range of timber construction systems or techniques that are available for use in Wales and to identify the extent to which Welsh-grown softwoods could be utilised in their production.
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Homegrown Timber in UK Construction – Case Studies, Volume. 1

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The projects showcased here represent a snap-shot of what’s happening throughout the whole of the UK, but with an emphasis on projects in Wales – from housing to retail, simple homes and social housing to high end self-build, as well as offices and schools.
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