Of all the major building materials timber framing made from plantation timber offers a unique and positive environmental story.

Natural and renewable

Timber is nature's own structural material which evolved to support trees that can grow as high as 100 metres. Every tree harvested is replaced - in fact Australia’s plantations are currently expanding so more trees are getting planted than are being harvested. For more information about Western Australia's pine plantations go to the websites of the Plantation Information Network and the Forest Products Commission Western Australia

Low carbon footprint

Plantation trees absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, store carbon in the wood and in the process release life-giving oxygen back into the air. The contribution of trees in reducing the quantity of greenhouse gases in the air is recognised as a key process in reducing the effects of climate change.

In the manufacturing process, little energy is needed to process the raw wood into framing timber. What little energy is needed to process and dry the wood to make timber is commonly produced from renewable biomass energy. Energy sourced from biomass is regarded as greenhouse neutral. Considering the amount of carbon absorbed by the trees that produce the timber, compared to other products such as concrete, brick and steel, using timber framing actually reduces carbon emissions rather than increases them ….. read more
 

Sourced from well-managed, sustainable plantations

All timber planting, harvesting and marketing is managed with a strong sustainability focus in Western Australia. The majority of plantation forests in Australia have been certified by independent third parties as being sustainably well-managed when assessed against the internationally recognised standards of the Australian Forestry Certification Scheme (AFCS) or the interim standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ….. read more

Durable

Pine framing timber used in a correctly designed and well built home protected from the elements and pests can have an indefinite life. Using Blue Pine preservative treated timber framing offers further peace of mind about longevity.

Good insulator

Timber is a natural insulator due to air pockets within its cellular structure. Most timbers are extremely low thermal conductors relative to other building materials - the conductivity of aluminium is typically about 1700 times as great, steel 400, concrete 10, brick and glass 6 times. The low thermal conductivity of timber minimizes the occurrence of thermal bridging that can occur with aluminium and steel building products. Additionally, the spaces between timber framing elements such as studs and joists can easily accept bulk insulation or reflective foil materials.

Low waste, reusable and recyclable

Modern timber wall frame and roof truss manufacturing facilities are efficient world class facilities and over 95% of timber is converted into the final framing product. As a prefabricated product, very little waste is produced on the building site from a timber framed home.

Timber is easy to work and is a building material with many applications so it can be readily reused at end-of-life. Additionally, untreated timber can be recycled back into new wood-based products such as particleboard or used as a greenhouse neutral biomass fuel in place of non-renewable fossil fuels. Residual waste timber, including treated timber, can be easily disposed of in approved landfills and stores the carbon absorbed from the atmosphere for very long periods of time….. read more

More information

• Environmental Benefits of Building with Timber
  
  Published by the National Timber Development Council