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The 21st Century will be the Century of wood

How will the world look 50 years from now? Visions of life in the future often show shiny cityscapes of glass and steel.

– It would seem that wood is not what we associate with our future yet the 21st Century will be seen as the century of wood, said Peter Wilson, Wood Managing Director of Timber Design Initiatives, during the 74th session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry held 18 – 20 October in Geneva, Switzerland.

Wilson is confident that given the amazing qualities of wood, it will soon be the material of choice for buildings. He was not alone in his conviction that wood is the material of the future.

Real price of carbon

Hans-Joachim Danzer, head of his family timber business, stated that if consumers had to pay the real cost of carbon emissions and waste disposal in the price of goods made from most other materials, they would choose wood. According to Harald Professner of the Rhomberg Group, the building and construction industry currently accounts for 40 percent of global resource consumption and CO2 emissions. He pointed out that using wood for construction can reduce CO2 emissions contained in buildings by more than 90 percent and has many other advantages such as quick construction time, ease of use and cost competitiveness. These qualities have motivated his company to embrace wood for their projects, as a result of the new generation of mass timber products, such as cross laminated timber panels and laminated beams.

Hans-Joachim Danzer, Head of Danzer Group, an Austria-headed hardwood products specialist speaking at the recently held 74th session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (photo courtesy Theresa Loeffler, UNECE/FAO).
Hans-Joachim Danzer, Head of Danzer Group, an Austria-headed hardwood products specialist speaking at the recently held 74th session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (photo courtesy Theresa Loeffler, UNECE/FAO). Hans-Joachim Danzer, Head of Danzer Group, an Austria-headed hardwood products specialist speaking at the recently held 74th session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (photo courtesy Theresa Loeffler, UNECE/FAO).

Large variation in wooden construction use

According to Maurizio Follesa from dedaLEGNO, wood use in construction in residential buildings in the UNECE region is mostly confined to single family – low rise buildings and its share varies considerably – from 90 percent in North America to 8-10 percent in Europe. The misconceptions on the performance of wood leads to its underutilisation, especially in cities. This prompted an unanimous agreement to invest in training architects, city planners and researchers on the performance qualities of wood, as an engineering material, and on its environmental credentials.

A panel of high level representatives from private forest products companies came to the same conclusion that wood plays a key role in addressing climate change and sustainable development. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, top managers explained that profits do not conflict with the concept of a green economy; they are necessary to guarantee sustainable forest management practices and innovation.

A thriving forest industry will not only provide materials for wood products companies like construction, but also guarantees employment and income for rural areas and keep forests healthy. Similarly, in poorer countries, it is important to maintain adequate returns from the forest, lest they be converted to other unsustainable land uses.

Sustainability certification useful

During the panel discussion, the certification of sustainable forest products was cited as a useful tool for gaining consumer confidence and promoting wood products.  Trade and economic facilitation on the one side and education on wood usage on the other side will pave the way to increased wood use in the region. In fact, the private sector representatives embrace free trade, as long as the playing field is level.

They called for a prompt resolution to a number of pending agreements such as the Softwood Lumber Agreement between Canada and the US and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada the EU. Building resilient infrastructure, making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable consumption and production will support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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