Celebrate certified timber at Ecobuild 2014

27 February 2014 Sustainable construction

Three of the world’s leading forest certification organizations will be sharing a stand at Ecobuild 2014 (4-6 March) to educate visitors on a wide range of issues surrounding the use and supply of legal and sustainable timber in the UK market. Joining PEFC UK on Stand S940 will be the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC).

This year will see PEFC UK promoting the benefits to building designers and developers of pursuing the highest level of assurance for their projects through PEFC Project Certification. Earlier this year, Kingsgate House, West London, provided 43 affordable residential units in PEFC-certified cross laminated timber, with the timber acting as a natural, low carbon and renewable alternative to steel and concrete. The Project Certification of this construction project is a global first for PEFC and provides a high profile example of the value of using certified timber at scale on a major project, with the CLT bringing many benefits to a project based in a densely populated and busy part of London.

Alun Watkins, National Secretary of PEFC UK said: “This has been an exciting year so far for PEFC and we see the Kingsgate House Project Certification success story as the first of many new developments in 2014 for PEFC. All the project members involved on the scheme, including main contractor Willmott Dixon, showed huge determination in pursuing Project Certification. The choice of PEFC-certified cross laminated timber gives the building huge sustainability and structural benefits.”

PEFC and the Malaysian Timber Council are also jointly sponsoring the Wood Awards 2014 and are keen to see as many architects, designers and contractors that have used PEFC-certified timber enter the Awards this year, to showcase the aesthetic and structural ways that timber can bring to a variety of building designs.

The MTCC will be available to provide a wide range of information about Malaysia’s sustainable forestry management methods. Sheam Satkuru-Granzella, Director of MTC, based in London, said: “MTC has always wanted to increase its outreach to designers, architects and specifiers by providing them with confidence about using PEFC-certified Malaysian timber. We naturally want to see the increased uptake of sustainably produced PEFC-certified tropical timber. The sheer variety and natural beauty of Malaysian species are ideal for multiple interior and exterior applications and we would be privileged to see examples of Malaysian timber used in any project within the Wood Awards 2014.”

The SFI forest management standard is the largest standard to be endorsed by PEFC. Additionally, companies can certify to both the PEFC and SFI chain-of-custodies, both of which are accepted by the UK’s Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET).

SFI President and CEO Kathy Abusow said: “Green building and third-party forest certification grew up together as progressive and effective responses to global concerns about sustainable development. Wood’s inherent properties – as a sustainable, natural, and renewable resource – make it an excellent environmental choice for any new construction or renovation. Third-party forest certification standards like SFI offer a proof point that wood comes from forests that have been managed for multiple environmental, social and economic values – today and for the future. SFI is proud to have the international value of PEFC endorsement of SFI Inc.’s position as a highly respected, third-party certification program across North America, while also providing access to SFI products in markets around the world.”

PEFC, MTCC and SFI will be on Stand S940 Ecobuild, ExCel, London, 4 - 6 March 2014.

If you have any queries please contact Hilary Khawam.