Sustainability and Timber

CO₂ AND RESPONSIBLE FORESTRY

Nature has a way of keeping balance and timber is one of its finest balancing tools. Growing trees absorb CO₂. One cubic metre of living wood absorbs almost one tonne of CO₂! The trees then break it down through photosynthesis and release oxygen into the atmosphere while storing the carbon in their wood for the life of the tree.

If the wood is put to use after the tree has long died, the carbon remains stored in the timber, preventing it from being released into our atmosphere. It is only when timber begins to rot that the carbon is finally released. It is in this way that we can slow down the carbon release through prolonging the life of the timber as building materials, flooring and other wooded products.

CO₂ emissions are now recognised as one of the biggest causes of climate change. Organisations and individuals alike are becoming increasingly aware of their carbon footprint and taking action to minimise their impact. One of the ways in which all of us can take action, is by ensuring the wood we choose is the right wood - sourced from responsibly managed forests and manufactured using eco-friendly processes.

Carbon Neutral

When responsible forest harvesting is completed properly, with the harvesting and regeneration managed in a cyclical continuous process, it is incredibly eco-friendly and considered to be carbon-neutral (original reference).

Timber is also incredibly efficient to manufacture and transport, unlike other building and flooring materials such as cement, which is responsible for an estimated 5% of global CO2 emissions (original reference).

ENGINEERED TIMBER FLOORING AND SUSTAINABILITY

High quality engineered timber flooring is one of the best sustainable and eco-friendly products you can choose for flooring. Unlike solid timber flooring which uses only a limited section of each tree, engineered timber flooring is constructed using multiple thinner planks, allowing for a greater amount of each tree to be utilised in the construction. Engineered timber flooring makes optimal use of a precious resource and results in far less wastage.

Other common flooring options such as vinyl flooring are non-recyclable and emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are widely attributed to a number of health and environmental issues. These materials contribute to landfill and excess wastage, unlike timber flooring which can be refinished and resanded to prolong lifespan, or repurposed again into other wood materials and products.

COST EFFECTIVENESS

As the world has become increasingly aware of the importance of protecting our environment, the demand for sustainable and responsibly sourced products has increased. This has allowed the supply to meet demand, bringing prices down to an accessible level and making a high quality, eco-certified timber floor an option for nearly all budgets from large commercial projects through to residential homes.

UNDERSTANDING ECO CERTIFICATIONS

A number of international, non-governmental organisations have been established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests, these include the following:

SUSTAINABILITY AND HAVWOODS

Sustainability is the responsibility of both individuals and organisations. The ecological footprint of any product has become as fundamental to the decision-making process as quality, design and price.

For us at Havwoods, sustainability is a matter of extreme importance. We are continuously taking new steps to improve our actions in this area. We ensure all of our products are ethically and sustainably sourced, and we are proud to work with like-minded, reputable timber manufacturers.

Wherever possible, our products carry independent and trusted certification such as FSC^® certification (C009500), PEFC and Cradle to Cradle^® certification, to further verify our timber sources.

All certifications are available to you upon request to demonstrate to your clients that you have met their expectations for ethical, green trading.

Find all of our independently certified Havwoods products in one place in our Sustainability Certified Collection

Timber Regulations In Australia

Australia follows the detailed regulations of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act. These strict regulations ensure that it is an offence to place illegally harvested timber and timber products on the Australian marketplace. Operators also have due diligence requirements under this Act, whereby they must assess and manage any risk that the products they are importing or processing have been illegally logged.

At Havwoods we have always had our own, extremely stringent requirements as to the provenance and sustainability of any timber which bears our name and ensuring we follow all regulations is top priority.

Over recent years we have also discontinued our offerings of exotic timbers as these species are most likely to suffer from illegal harvesting. With modern advancements in technologies, the demands for unusual colours and finishes can now be met more than adequately by manipulating readily available species like oak. 

Choose Wood

Choosing wood is undeniably good for the environment – just make sure that the wood you use is the right wood.

If you would like any guidance on choosing from our certified products, or further information at all, get in touch with us today.