View from Frame Australia ‘Timber Off Site Construction’ conference…
As one of 28 exhibitors, Responsible Wood’s Jason Ross witnessed first-hand the developments in the mass-timber construction market.
‘Mass-timber is revolutionising residential and commercial projects the world over, and Australia is no different with architects, designers, engineers and builders looking to offsite timber systems to take advantage of increasing returns.’
‘But with the push towards mass-timber and offsite timber systems, the importance of forest certification, as a tool to verify the legal and sustainable origin is critical,’ Mr Ross said.
Running from Monday, the 17th of June 2019 until Tuesday, the 18th of June 2019, the conference provided Responsible Wood with the opportunity to interact with the movers and shakers driving mass timber construction in the Australian marketplace.
‘More and more building professionals are inquiring about forest certification, the push for forest certification in the solid wood industry must come from building professionals speaking up and demanding that suppliers verify the sustainable origin of the timber through the supply chain,’ Mr Ross said.
In Australia, the Responsible Wood forest certification scheme uses the Australian Forestry Standard to demonstrate sustainable forest management practices with the scheme mutually recognised and international endorsed by PEFC internationally.
‘The PEFC endorsement is invaluable, the timber market is a truly global market with imports and exports circulating the global economy.’
‘PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification scheme, with more than 310 million hectares of forest under certification across more than 55 countries, building professionals can source timber from forests that meet responsible forest practices,’ Mr Ross said.
And when it comes to resource availability, PEFC and Responsible Wood certified timber is currently being used on many of Australia’s largest and most prominent mass timber projects.
‘Fortunately we have an abundance of forests that are certified, the key to ask you supplier, merchant, retailer or procurement specialist for timber that carries a PEFC or Responsible Wood claim,’ Mr Ross said.
Recent examples of building projects using PEFC certified engineered timbers include the critically acclaimed International House project in Barangaroo, Sydney, a project that was featured extensively throughout the conference.
‘International House, which recently claimed the prize of best certified timber at the World Architecture Festival is one example but there are several others including 25 King Street in Brisbane and Bunjil Place in Narre Warren, Victoria.’
‘For the environmentally and socially conscious buyer, PEFC and Responsible Wood is a very real and tangible trust mark that can be used to support and protect the forests and those that inhibit them.’
‘Responsible Wood and PEFC is the ultimate trust mark, ensuring the timber used is ultimately sustainable and supports renewable forestry,’ Mr Ross said.
For more information about PEFC or Responsible Wood please visit the Responsible Wood website.
