PATHWAY TO CARBON REDUCTION

emissions which comes from the processing of wood products in the country of origin. This figure, taken together with territorial emissions, would make the timber industry responsible for about 0.68% of the UK’s total emissions.

Timber has long been advocated as a solution to reduce embodied carbon in construction. The roadmap suggests several opportunities for the timber supply chain to influence their emissions, which, when put into practice, can reduce carbon contribution and lower costs.

Scope 1 and scope 2 emissions

Charlie Law, Sustainability Director at Timber Development UK (TDUK), picks out some of the central themes contained in the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap.

In January, Timber Development UK (TDUK), in collaboration with Structural Timber Association (STA) and ten other UK timber trade associations, launched the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap, setting out the causes of emissions throughout the timber supply chain and proposing steps the industry can take to reduce these and what the journey to net zero could look like.

The UK timber supply chain is a critical contributor to the economy, employing over 350,000 people and generating a turnover of over £10billion. To describe the timber supply chain as a significant contributor to the UK economy is an understatement. While timber is inherently a low-carbon material, there are still actions the industry can take to reduce emissions associated with its use as the construction industry seeks to reach net zero.

The first step of the Roadmap has been to outline the size of the challenge, with 12 months of expert analysis showing the timber supply chain is responsible for 1,575,356 tonnes CO2e territorial emissions – which is about 0.35% of the UK total. While this is very low compared to other manufacturing industries such as UK steel production, which is responsible for 12 million tonnes CO2e (2.7% of UK emissions), and concrete, which is responsible for 7.3 million tonnes CO2e (1.5% of UK emissions), the Roadmap starts from the position that no emissions are acceptable.

Much of the industry’s emissions come from imported timber. The Roadmap also seeks to influence the 3,655,715 tonnes CO2e of imported embodied

One of the most important steps for businesses to put in motion is to align to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol and report scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, which all non-SME operators are required to do by 2023. Direct emissions, such as those caused by the use of natural gas in boilers, biomass in CHP plants, or fuel used in company vehicles, fall under scope 1, while indirect emissions, predominantly electricity used by a business for manufacturing and in offices, falls under scope 2.

Businesses can reduce their scope 1 and 2 emissions by identifying ways to switch to renewable energy sources and decarbonising the operation of their buildings. For instance, businesses can configure building controls and building management systems based on the actual use of the building to reduce unnecessary use. In addition, it may be necessary to audit sensors and detection devices to identify problem areas. Ventilation systems should also be reviewed to ensure they are not running unnecessarily, and controls should be automated where possible with the use of timers and occupancy sensors.

Transportation emissions

Transport is the single most significant contributor to the timber industry’s carbon profile accounting for 49% of emissions.

The Roadmap suggests that transport and logistic operations can benefit from small improvements to the efficiency of their fleets. This could be as simple as ensuring optimal tyre pressures are maintained along with driver style training, through to the introduction of route optimisation software and aerodynamic improvements to vehicles. Longer term, both hydrogen and electric vehicles have great potential to move our dependency away from oil for transport. As of now, electric vehicles appear to have an advantage over hydrogen, due to multiple factors such as cost, availability, ease of charging, and efficiency. Electric HGVs are currently undergoing trials and are expected to enter the popular market shortly before 2030. Hydrogen vehicles, which will be required for certain areas of the industry, are expected to follow by 2040, but will require significant improvements to infrastructure to make these a viable option.

Scope 3 emissions

The Roadmap also sets a target to reduce the scope 3 carbon emissions of the industry by 90% by 2050. Scope 3 encompasses emissions that are not produced by the company itself, and not the result of activities from assets owned or controlled by them, but by those that it’s indirectly responsible for, up and down its value chain. Examples include the embodied emissions in the products we buy from suppliers, or emissions from vehicles used by externally hired haulage companies. Businesses can start working with their main suppliers to understand their carbon footprint so they can begin to understand where savings could be made as soon as possible.

First steps on the road

The most important first step is making sure your business can accurately count your carbon emissions (Scope 1,2 and 3). From here, businesses can identify ways to be more competitive in a lowcarbon market. The Timber Industry’s Net Zero Roadmap is available for download on TDUK’s website, and it provides a clear pathway to achieving net zero in the timber supply chain. By taking action to reduce carbon emissions, the timber industry can continue to be a vital contributor to the UK’s economy while also reducing its impact on the environment.

To download a copy of the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap visit: www.timberdevelopment.uk

IMAGES:

01. The new Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap sets out a pathway for the timber supply chain to further reduce its carbon emissions

02. Charlie Law, Sustainability Director, Timber Development UK

03. The UK timber supply chain is a critical contributor to the economy