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<\/span>Several leading UK construction organisations have joined the Trust UK C16 Timber campaign, an industry initiative encouraging greater use of domestically produced structural timber in building projects.<\/p>\n The campaign, launched in 2025 by three of the country\u2019s largest sawmilling companies \u2014 BSW Timber, James Jones & Sons, and Glennon Brothers \u2014 seeks to dispel misconceptions surrounding C16 structural timber, a grade commonly produced from British softwoods.<\/p>\n New partners include the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). Their participation is expected to help bring the initiative closer to architects and structural engineers responsible for specifying materials at the design stage.<\/p>\n Reducing dependence on imports<\/strong><\/p>\n The UK remains heavily dependent on imported timber despite having a well-developed sawmilling sector. Around 80% of the country\u2019s timber demand is met through imports, valued at roughly \u00a39 billion annually, making Britain the second-largest net importer of forest products worldwide.<\/p>\n Industry representatives argue that this reliance weakens domestic supply chains and increases carbon emissions linked to transport. Promoting locally produced timber could strengthen rural economies while reducing the environmental footprint of construction materials.<\/p>\n The Trust UK C16 campaign aims to address these issues by increasing awareness of the structural capabilities of C16 timber, which is widely produced in Britain but often overlooked in favour of higher-strength C24 grades typically imported from Scandinavia.<\/p>\n Addressing misconceptions about timber grades<\/strong><\/p>\n Although most structural softwood harvested in the UK is graded C16, many construction specifications default to C24, a standard widely associated with imported material from countries such as Sweden, Finland and Germany.<\/p>\n Industry groups argue that for many low- and mid-rise buildings, C16 timber provides sufficient structural performance. When additional strength is required, designers can adjust dimensions or spacing rather than automatically specifying higher-grade timber.<\/p>\n Through seminars, technical briefings and industry roundtables, the campaign aims to provide architects, engineers and contractors with clearer information on when and how C16 timber can be used effectively.<\/p>\n Support across the timber and construction sectors<\/strong><\/p>\n Confor, the UK\u2019s forestry and wood industry organisation, is also supporting the campaign. Chief executive Stuart Goodall said the industry\u2019s response to the initiative has been strong and highlighted the importance of involving professionals responsible for specifying construction materials.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we want to secure the long-term supply of domestic timber for the built environment and become more self-sufficient, we need support from the earliest design stages through to project completion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Architectural bodies also emphasised the sustainability benefits of greater use of domestic timber.<\/p>\n John Ward, corporate partnerships manager at RIBA, said the organisation was pleased to support the initiative and help communicate the economic and environmental advantages of specifying UK-grown timber.<\/p>\n Similarly, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland described timber as a sustainable and aesthetically valuable building material, adding that the campaign will help raise awareness of the benefits of using domestic wood.<\/p>\n Linked to the UK timber construction strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n The campaign aligns with the British government\u2019s Timber in Construction Roadmap, adopted in 2025, which aims to expand timber use in building while strengthening domestic supply chains.<\/p>\n The roadmap promotes training for architects and contractors, improvements in data on whole-life carbon emissions, and increased timber availability from certified sources. It also supports innovation in engineered wood products and addresses issues such as fire safety and durability in large timber structures.<\/p>\n Among the strategy\u2019s objectives are expanding UK forest cover to 16.5% by 2050, reducing emissions by replacing high-carbon construction materials with wood, and increasing the role of domestic timber production in the building sector.<\/p>\n By promoting the use of C16 timber wherever structural requirements allow, industry groups hope to shorten supply chains, improve price stability and strengthen the resilience of Britain\u2019s timber sector while supporting the transition toward lower-emission construction.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Several leading UK construction organisations have joined the Trust UK C16 Timber campaign, an industry initiative encouraging greater use of domestically produced structural timber in building projects. The campaign, launched in 2025 by three of the country\u2019s largest sawmilling companies … Continue reading