The BWF has secured funding from WRAP and BRE Trust to run pilot studies on how the joinery sector and its supply chain can reduce the wood waste it produces and improve the efficiency of its use of resources.
Construction Resources and Waste Platform (CRWP) agreed last year to fund three scoping studies to investigate how the construction industry can meet its goals. Through its involvement with the Construction Products Association, the BWF undertook an initial scoping study to examine how improving resource efficiency and management of wood waste could help its members.
The completed study has identified areas where the manufactured joinery industry could benefit commercially, at the same time improving its environmental profile. The study also recommends ways in which BWF members can achieve this.
The pilot studies will pick up the recommendations of the scoping study and test them out, with the aim of eventually drafting a formalised plan for the manufactured joinery industry which will set out agreed waste reduction and efficiency targets. It is anticipated that the plan will act as a model for other parts of the wood processing industries.
With land-fill taxes set to rise and additional legislative requirements in place, the issue of waste is likely to become increasingly important to all those in the construction sector and BWF members.
The pilot trials will run until the end of March 2010, and will focus on the two main areas of resource efficiency:
1) Reducing waste by improved procurement to enable more efficient supply and use of timber.
2) Formalising and improving waste collection, leading to commercial benefits for joinery manufacturers and wood recyclers.
Plans for these are now underway. Separate task groups will organise, manage and measure pilot trials and case studies to set up best practice methods.
An Industry Steering Group has been formed which, in addition to BWF and CPA, includes wider stakeholders such as Timber Trade Federation, Wood Protection Association, Wood Panel Industries Federation, Wood Recyclers’ Association, CRWP, BRE, WRAP and DEFRA. Other organisations will be invited to join as appropriate.
How you can take part
The project team wishes to work with all BWF members who would be interested in taking part. This will involve employing best practice methods in your company, or perhaps by direct participation in the pilot studies depending on geographical location.
If you are interested in participating, please contact us at The scoping study and further information on the trials will be made available to logged-in members on the BWF website.