Wood is Naturally Better
Wood is Naturally Better
Wood: Nature’s Ultimate Building Material
Wood has been an integral part of human civilization for centuries, valued for its natural, sustainable, and versatile qualities as a building material. Yet, despite its many advantages, misconceptions have led some architects, builders, and developers to underestimate its potential. By understanding wood’s inherent properties, durability, and environmental benefits, particularly when it is sourced from certified and legal origins, its responsible use can be more widely embraced.
As a natural material, wood is shaped by the environment in which it grows, resulting in unique variations in density, texture, and performance. No two pieces are exactly alike. This inherent diversity contributes to wood’s remarkable adaptability. With a deeper appreciation of its nature, wood emerges as a material that seamlessly blends form and function, offering limitless possibilities for innovative and sustainable design.
Certified Wood = Forest Protection
Choosing certified or legally sourced timber isn’t just good practice — it’s a commitment to forest conservation. It ensures that your material choices support responsible forestry and contribute to global sustainability goals.
Wood’s Environmental Edge
Captures & Stores Carbon
As trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and store it in their wood. This helps reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Even after a tree is harvested, the carbon remains locked inside the wood, making timber a natural carbon store.
Supports Climate Action
Using wood from sustainably managed forests helps fight climate change. Younger trees absorb more CO₂, so harvesting mature trees and replanting new ones keeps the carbon cycle going. It’s better to use the wood than let old trees die and release carbon back into the air.
Renewable & Sustainable
Timber is the only renewable building material. New trees can be replanted to replace those that are harvested, ensuring a continuous and eco-friendly supply.
Energy-Efficient & Recyclable
Wood requires far less energy to produce than materials like concrete or steel. It can also be reused or recycled when a building is renovated or demolished, reducing waste and environmental impact.
Environmentally Friendly Over its Life Cycle
Studies show that wood has a lower environmental footprint over its entire life cycle—from harvesting to use and recycling—compared to most other common building materials.
Reducing CO₂ Through Sustainable Timber Harvesting
Sustainable Timber Harvesting: a Natural Climate Solution
Forests play a key role in fighting climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. However, in forests that are not managed, trees eventually age, die, and release the CO₂ they once stored, reducing the forest’s ability to act as a carbon sink.
Sustainable timber harvesting offers a better solution. By selectively removing mature trees and allowing younger ones to grow, forests can continue to absorb CO₂ more efficiently. The harvested wood is used to make long-lasting products like furniture and buildings, which continue to store carbon for many years.
This cycle of harvesting, replanting, and carbon storage helps keep forests healthy and productive. It also turns wood into a renewable resource that supports climate goals. When done responsibly, timber harvesting becomes a natural and effective way to combat climate change—making it truly a natural climate solution.
Harvested Forest
How Sustainable Harvesting Reduces CO₂
Mature trees are selectively harvested under Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices. This opens the forest canopy and allows sunlight to reach the forest floor, promoting the growth of younger trees.
Young trees absorb more CO₂ quickly during their growth phase. A hectare of these trees can absorb enough carbon dioxide in a year to offset the emissions of a car driven 10,000 km.
Harvested timber, when used in construction and furniture, continues to store the carbon it absorbed during the tree’s lifetime. This keeps carbon locked in for decades, helping to reduce the carbon footprint.
Non-Harvested Forest
What Happens When Trees are Left Alone
Old trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) at a much slower rate as they age. Over time, their ability to trap carbon diminishes significantly.
When trees die—due to age, disease, lightning, forest fires or wind—the carbon locked in their cells is released back into the atmosphere. In fact, the death of a single 70-year-old tree can release up to three tonnes of CO₂.
The Carbon Journey in Managed Forests
Step 1
Trees grow and absorb carbon dioxide, storing it in their trunks, branches, and leaves.
Step 2
Mature trees are harvested following sustainable practices.
Step 3
Timber is turned into long-lasting wood products such as buildings and furniture.
Step 4
New trees grow in the harvested area, restarting the carbon absorption cycle.
Key Takeaway
Sustainable timber harvesting keeps forests healthy, boosts carbon absorption, and stores carbon in wood products—making it a powerful, natural solution to combat climate change.
