Commissioned by Timber Development UK (TDUK) in collaboration with eleven UK timber trade associations, the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap was developed following a comprehensive effort to map and measure carbon emissions across the whole supply chain.

The Net-Zero Roadmap project establishes a clear route to net-zero carbon by 2050 for the industry. The roadmap highlights the key areas where the timber industry can make a difference, including:

• How we can improve the efficiency of production and distribution of materials.
• Moving over to electric powered vehicles for the transportation of products, and hydrogen for harvesting.
• Moving over to biomass CHP, and other renewable forms of energy, at production facilities.
• Working with our overseas supply chain to implement similar measures to reduce imported embodied emissions.

Analysis in the Roadmap in 2022 showed the timber supply chain is responsible for 1,575,356 tonnes CO2e territorial emissions – about 0.35% of the UK total.

While this is very low compared to other manufacturing industries such as UK steel production, which is responsible for 12 million tonnes CO2e (2.7% of UK emissions), and concrete, which is responsible for 7.3 million tonnes CO2e (1.5% of UK emissions), the Roadmap starts from the position that no emissions are acceptable.

The Roadmap also seeks to influence the 4,158,137 tonnes CO2e of imported embodied emissions which comes from the processing of wood products in the country of origin. This figure, taken together with territorial emissions, would make the timber industry responsible for about 0.75% of the UK’s total emissions.

Please note these figures are updated every year. Please make sure to download the Roadmap which will feature the most up to date data on carbon for the industry.

The Roadmap also seeks to challenge the misconception that the timber supply chain does not need to worry about its emissions as it comes from a low-carbon base, and there are few opportunities for the timber supply chain to influence their emissions – by highlighting quick wins for businesses throughout the supply chain which can be put into practice now.

Advice in the Roadmap on ways to reduce or remove these emissions, along with practical case studies, cover energy use, efficiency, and waste, as well as the single biggest contributor to the timber industries carbon profile – transport.

The Roadmap supports the entire timber industry. TDUK has released this Roadmap for free, while providing TDUK members with multiple tools to accurately count their carbon emissions, and better understand their emissions profile.

We will be regularly updating this Roadmap, along with our advice and tools for members. Get in touch if you have any questions.