As the pressure to decarbonise intensifies across the global economy, few industries are better poised to lead the way than timber. At a recent presentation to the North West Timber Trade Association, Charlie Law, Sustainability Director of Timber Development UK, laid out a vision for how the UK timber sector can not only contribute to but help shape the transition to a net zero carbon economy.
In a sector known for its natural sustainability, it might come as a surprise to learn that the UK timber industry still accounts for over 5.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) emissions every year. While timber remains one of the lowest carbon building materials available, there’s no escaping the fact that transport, imports, and processing all leave a footprint on our built environment.
While the timber industry may already be one of the lowest carbon material sectors, Charlie’s presentation made it clear that resting on that reputation is not an option. Instead, the Net Zero Roadmap offers a structured, science-aligned path to ensure that timber remains the go-to low-carbon building material well into the future.
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, global temperatures must be limited to well below 2°C – ideally 1.5°C – above pre-industrial levels. The UK has legally committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with an ambitious interim target of an 81% reduction by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. That’s less than 10 years to eliminate four-fifths of our emissions.
The timber industry is already a relatively low-emissions sector. Territorial emissions from timber-related activities total around 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂e — just 0.35% of the UK’s overall emissions. Even when adding the 4.2 million tonnes of embodied emissions from imported timber products, the industry’s total footprint remains under 0.75%.
That might sound reassuring, but Charlie warned against being complacent. “Compared to concrete and steel we’re in a good place,” he said. “But if we don’t act now, they will catch up with us through low-carbon innovation, and timber will lose its climate edge.”
The Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap, developed in partnership with carbon consultancy Energise and first published in January 2023, sets a clear trajectory for the sector to slash emissions by 90% by 2050 – the point at which only 10% of emissions can be offset. “Net zero doesn’t mean doing nothing and offsetting it all,” Charlie said. “It means reducing your emissions as far as practically possible before you consider any offsetting.”
A legal and moral imperative
The drive toward net zero isn’t just ethical – it’s legally mandated. Following the landmark COP21 Paris Agreement, the UK government enshrined a legal target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. As of COP29 in 2024, this includes an interim target of an 81% reduction by 2035. “That’s just a decade away,” Charlie said. “And while we’ve made progress, particularly thanks to the decarbonisation of the electricity grid, there’s still a long road ahead.”
In response to this need, the Net Zero Roadmap identifies emissions hotspots, provides tools such as carbon calculators and action plan templates, and sets forth high-level policy recommendations to steer the sector toward a sustainable future.
A spotlight on transport
One of the most revealing takeaways from the roadmap is the breakdown of timber-related emissions. Although the sector contributes just 0.35% of the UK’s territorial CO₂ emissions – compared to steel’s 2.7% and concrete’s 1.5% – imported embodied emissions bring the timber sector’s total to nearly 0.75%.
“Transport accounts for a whopping 55% of total emissions,” Charlie explained, “and that includes everything from country-of-origin shipping to local delivery from merchant to end-user.” Of this, the quarter that represents UK-based transport – from port to mill, mill to merchant, and merchant to site – is where the industry has direct influence.
Reducing transport emissions will be pivotal to meeting net zero targets. The roadmap proposes cutting road transport emissions intensity by 25% by 2030, and 50% by 2035.
“We can’t just wait for zero-emission vehicles,” Charlie said. “It’s also about smarter logistics, consolidating loads, route planning, and modal shifts – basically using fewer vehicles more efficiently.”
Decarbonising the supply chain
While transportation is the primary concern, the roadmap also targets emissions across processing, manufacturing, forestry, and waste. The targets are ambitious but achievable:
- Manufacturing/process emissions to be halved by 2030
- Forestry emissions to be reduced by 50% by 2040
- Scope 1 & 2 carbon intensity down 90% by 2045
- Scope 3 (indirect emissions) down 90% by 2050.
Scope 3 emissions, which cover everything from raw material extraction abroad to transport logistics, are particularly challenging. But Charlie believes there are real opportunities for influence, especially through procurement and partnerships with lower-carbon producers.
He also believes there is promise in the move towards electric vehicles (EVs), particularly when needing to transport relatively lightweight timber products compared to bulkier materials like concrete or aggregates.
“Electric trucks are more feasible for timber than for heavy industry,” he explained. “We’re transporting lighter loads, so battery range is less of an issue.”
Charlie believes electric fleets could begin making headway by the end of the decade. For rougher terrain and forest operations, hydrogen may be better suited. “Hydrogen trucks have a similar weight to diesel, which makes them less likely to damage roads,” Charlie noted, a fact that is particularly relevant in forest extraction operations with fragile infrastructure. “However, these are not likely to be available until nearer 2040.”
Practical Tools for Action
The Net Zero Roadmap isn’t just a report – it’s designed to be a toolkit that the entire timber industry can use to move their businesses towards net zero. It includes:
- A sector-specific carbon calculator (available in Excel or via Net Zero Club online)
- An opportunity checklist for emissions reduction
- Action plan and communications templates
- Policy and cost guidance for emissions-reduction initiatives.
The roadmap’s goal, Charlie emphasised, is to provide the industry with everything it needs to take meaningful steps.
Offsetting, while only a final step, still plays a role. The roadmap advocates for nature-based carbon removals (ie, permanent, credible offsets) combined with reductions. It also supports initiatives to increase domestic timber production and expand the UK’s woodland stock, both of which have the double benefit of reducing import-related emissions and bolstering the UK’s green economy.
Timber may already be a greener choice than steel or concrete, but resting on its laurels is not an option. As Law warned, “If we don’t act, other materials will make the low-carbon claim before we do.” With concrete and steel sectors already piloting low-carbon technologies, timber must move fast to retain its environmental edge.
For more information and to download the roadmap, visit: timberdevelopment.uk/resources/net-zero-roadmap
