Misconceptions about the timber industry significantly impact the use of wood in building and design projects. Reports and images of logging practices, for instance, often mislead people into thinking that using timber is destructive to the natural environment.
That timber is a renewable resource with excellent carbon storage properties is often lost in the flood of information that streams into the public domain. Logging practices have evolved over the decades to protect native forests as well as the flora, fauna and communities who rely upon them. However, the lack of awareness about the environmental benefits of working with wood, especially timber veneer, often discourages its inclusion in building projects.
In fact, several studies have shown that many Australians are not aware that using wood (as opposed to other materials) is good for the environment and can positively impact climate change.
A recent timber publication by the Timber Veneer Association of Australia (TVAA), of which Matilda Veneer is a member, also sheds light on this important issue.
The use of timber veneer and wood products in building and construction helps combat climate change in two very important ways.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store the carbon for life – the stored carbon is locked up for the whole life of the tree as well as any building product or furniture made from the harvested timber. About half the dry weight of a tree is carbon, which is only released into the atmosphere again when the wood decays or is burnt.
Recent research shows that more than 95 per cent of the carbon in wood remains stored even after up to 30 years in a landfill.
Secondly, the carbon-storing properties of the forest and wood products industry make it one of the most greenhouse-friendly sectors of the Australian economy. It is the only industry sector in Australia that stores more carbon dioxide than it releases into the atmosphere. Therefore, when you use timber veneer and wood products in your projects, you are not only enhancing your green credentials but also helping Australia offset its overall greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.
Timber veneer and wood products are amongst the most sustainable and environmentally sound materials on the planet. Each cubic metre of log produces around 1,000 square metres of veneer, making it an ideal material to combat climate change.
Matilda Veneer is a proud member of the Timber Veneer Association of Australia with Matilda’s Anthony Wardrop serving as the Association’s vice-president in 2018 and 2019.
Matilda Veneer is proudly certified under both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) chain of custody and due diligence systems.
