FEATURE TREATED TIMBER
Treated wood and tackling climate change The Wood Protection Association (WPA) believes that making the most of wood to tackle climate change goes ‘hand in glove’ with making the most of wood protection technology. WPA Chief Executive Gordon Ewbank explains why.
T
here is an urgent need for government to get to grips with
The most effective way to use treated wood in a CO2 reduction
setting out a plan on how its zero carbon commitment can
strategy is use it in place of ‘carbon intensive’ materials. The European
be achieved. Wood’s sustainability, carbon storage ability,
confederation of woodworking industries, CEI-Bois, has calculated that
low-embodied energy production and sheer versatility
the substitution of one cubic metre of concrete with the same volume
make it a standout choice as a construction and landscaping material. The
of treated wood will save CO2 emissions to atmosphere by 1.1 tonnes.
ability to enhance its durability and performance using wood protection
If this saving is added to the 0.9 tonne of CO2 already locked into the
technologies adds significantly to its versatility and efficiency.
wood, then by substituting treated wood for a man-made material will
The climate change crisis and depletion of fossil fuels and the raw
prevent the emission of 2 tonnes of CO2.
materials for man-made materials like steel, plastic and concrete is
The International Institute for Environment & Development
re-focusing government strategy on circular ‘bio-economic’ principles
calculated that it would take just a 10% increase in the number of
using renewable biological resources. Wood is part of this circular bio-
houses in Europe whose main structural components are wood
economy. Unlike man-made materials which are produced from finite
to reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to around 25% of the global
raw material sources (once gone they’re gone for good), timber can be
reductions prescribed in the Kyoto Protocol which came into force in
harvested indefinitely under sustainable forest management schemes.
2005. Clearly, the climate crisis has moved on since then but the point
The more wood is used the more trees are planted. The benefits to the
about the contribution that wood and long-lasting treated wood can
environment are substantial.
play is still relevant to the binding commitment made by UK under the
A growing tree absorbs the gas most associated with climate change,
Paris agreement.
carbon dioxide (CO2) and stores it as carbon within its mass while releasing life-
A recent study by BRE Centre for Sustainable Products further
giving oxygen into the atmosphere. When the tree is harvested and converted
underlines the value of treated wood in tackling climate change. The study
into a wood product the carbon remains locked in the product for its service
found that a terrace made from preservative impregnated softwood had a
life. By extending the service life of wood with a preservative or wood
global warming potential 200% lower than a terrace made from concrete
modification process that carbon is stored for a significantly longer time.
slabs and 700% lower than composite plastic decking.
Timber Trader UK Magazine
Autumn 2020
12
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