Jack Clappen

Softwood imports
Softwood imports see a strong start to 2023, says TDUK
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The softwood category started 2023 on a high, with volumes up 12% compared to January 2022, according to the latest Timber Development UK statistics. Softwood imports totalled 426,000m3 in January this year, with volume increases from Sweden, Finland and the Republic of Ireland largely responsible. Despite softwood increases, overall timber...
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Embodied carbon.
TDUK Spring Policy Update
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TDUK Policy Executive Jack Clappen reflects on a busy winter period of political advocacy for the Confederation of Timber Industries. A little more than a year ago, the Environmental Audit Committee recognised timber as essential for decarbonising our built environment in their landmark report ‘Building to net zero: costing carbon...
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Softwood imports
Timber imports decline in 2022 but continue long-term average growth.
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Imports of the main timber and panel products in 2022 were 2.4 million m3 lower than over the same period in 2021, according to the latest TDUK statistics. The quantity of all imports in 2022 totalled 9.3 million m3, a decline of 20% from last year. This was driven by...
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Construction barriers
Mapping the barriers to using more timber in construction
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The Timber in Construction Working Group has opened a survey to better understand barriers and enablers to the use of timber systems in construction. The findings will help inform work by the government on the safe and sustainable use of timber in construction including the creation of a Timber in...
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Softwood imports
More ‘regular’ timber import patterns seen in Q4 2022, says TDUK
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The gap between record 2021 volumes and low 2022 volumes began to close in November, with imports resembling more regular winter totals. The disparity in total volumes between 2021 and 2022 was just 14% in November, compared to 22% in October and 21% in September. The reduced disparity between 2021...
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Construction barriers
Another one bites the dust – Rachel Maclean MP becomes latest Housing Minister
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Timber Development UK was disappointed to hear that we lost another Minister of State for Housing last week. Rachel Maclean MP has replaced Lucy Frazer MP, who lasted just 91 days in the job before her promotion to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The UK Housing Minister has...
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UKCA mark
Consultation alert: Transition away from BS 476 in Approved Document B
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The Government is proposing in their next update to Approved Document B to remove remaining references to all aspects of the BS 476 series – the national classification standard for reaction to fire and fire resistance in Approved Document B. Timber Development UK (TDUK) is concerned that a 12-month transition...
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Offsite timber manufacturing
Shadow Levelling Up Minister sees benefits of offsite timber manufacturing
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Shadow Levelling Up Minister and MP for Nottingham North, Alex Norris MP, visited Donaldson Offsite’s operations in Ilkeston, Derbyshire – the UK’s largest trussed rafter and timber floor factory – this week. In his capacity as Shadow Levelling Up Minister and Vice Chair of the APPG for the Timber Industries,...
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Timber industry roadmap to net zero carbon
Net zero roadmap offers timber businesses carbon and cost savings
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A new timber industry net zero roadmap aims to accelerate the productivity, sustainability, and innovation of the sector to better meet the needs of a low-carbon world. Commissioned by Timber Development UK (TDUK) in collaboration with eleven UK timber trade associations*, the Timber Industry Net Zero Roadmap was developed following...
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Embodied Carbon
Net Zero Review marks positive start to 2023
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A net zero economy is the ‘growth opportunity of the 21st Century’ according to a new report from a UK Government sponsored report. Former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore MP published his Net Zero Review last Friday, putting forward a set of 129 recommendations to accelerate this shift. Key among these recommendations is...
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