BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – 06/03/2020
‘Responsible Wood Director and World Architecture Festival judge Mark Thomson challenges architects and builders to insist on PEFC and Responsible Wood claims on timber’
Following the announcement of the 2020 World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Lisbon, Portugal, architects are now invited to nominate their favourite timber projects for the coveted ‘Best Use of Certified Timber’ award.
For WAF judge Mark Thomson, one of four on the ‘Best Use of Certified Timber’ judging panel, PEFC claims on timber is a must as more and more architects and builders embrace sustainability sourced timbers in building projects.
‘A growing number of architects and builders are looking to do the right thing and source timber from forests that claim to be sustainably managed.’
‘PEFC, as the world’s largest forest certification scheme, provides architects with confidence that timber sourced from PEFC certified forests are grown and harvested sustainably.’
‘PEFC claims on timber products, whether it be on the invoice or the delivery docket, demonstrates that the chain-of-custody on supply is unbroken,’ Mr Thomson said.
When it comes to protecting global forests and demonstrating that timber in projects is sourced from sustainably managed forests, chain-of-custody is a must.
‘Following the cradle to cradle concept, chain-of-custody provides honesty and transparency in the supply chain.’
‘Ultimately, timber can only be certified if chain-of-custody and supporting documentation is provided and witnessed by the architect,’ Mr Thomson said.
A director of Responsible Wood, the national governing body for PEFC in Australia, Mr Thomson is a multi-award winning architect in his own right with more than 30 years’ experience in the Australian commercial building and design sector.
In addition to the WAF judging panel, Mr Thomson is Chair and Judge of the Australian Banksia Awards, the world’s longest running sustainability awards programme.
Mr Thomson is a Board Member of the Griffith University Eco Centre and the immediate past president of the Australian Green Development Forum.
For more information about the World Architecture Festival, please visit the WAF2020 Festival website.
For more information about PEFC forest certification, please visit the Responsible Wood website.