The FWPA-funded three-part carbon guide series – published towards the end of 2023 to support industry efforts to combat climate change – has been met with an enthusiastic response from stakeholders.
Since the first carbon guide was made available in September, the online webpage has received more than 1,966 views by 1,082 unique users and since 7 Feb 2024 we have had 132 (tracked) downloads of the carbon guides + social media assets on the landing page.
Click here to Download the Carbon Guides and Social Media Assets
The guides are an example of FWPA providing industry with the knowledge to help create widespread understanding amongst timber users and policy makers of the positive role of forestry and wood products in the face of a changing climate.
The information in the guides is designed to help members promote the advantages of forestry and timber use and support the Australian Government’s goals of a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The unique role of forestry in addressing climate change
While every industry has a part to play in addressing the changing climate, forestry occupies a unique position thanks to its role in the global carbon cycle. The guides shed light on the multifaceted positive impacts of sustainably managed forests and use of the resulting wood products on Australia’s carbon balance.
Head of Built Environment Programs at FWPA, Kevin Peachey, said that while the guides illustrate the widely acknowledged carbon sequestration capabilities of forests, they also promote the often-underestimated role that wood plays in carbon storage during its service life and after disposal.
“The industry has a compelling, positive story to share when it comes to carbon, and we must be our own strongest promoters,” Peachey said.
“As we’ve seen from the uptake by members since the guides were published, they are already informing our industry’s dialogue around carbon and forestry.
“By coming together in this way, all members can do their bit to help position forestry as key to shaping a future in which timber is recognised and embraced for its inherent advantages in helping to curb carbon emissions. In turn, this will drive sustainable industry growth.”
Australian Forest Products Association Communications Director Joe Prevedello agrees the guides are a positive resource for the industry to tap into.
“The FWPA carbon guides have provided an excellent resource to help easily explain what can be complex concepts, with the help of case studies and visual graphics,” Prevedello said.
“When you need to explain something related to production trees and carbon to the uninitiated, these carbon guides are the way to go.”
- The Carbon Primer and Glossary is for forest and wood product sector company representatives.
- The Forests, Plantations, Wood Products and Australia’s Carbon Balance Guide is for policy makers.
- The WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide, ‘The Role of Wood Products in Zero Carbon Buildings’ is a valuable resource for timber and wood product users, including building and design professionals aiming to incorporate sustainable materials.
To further support industry stakeholders to actively and constructively contribute to the ongoing carbon and sustainability dialogue, FWPA has created a complimentary library of freely available social media assets, with infographics, images and short animations for organisations to download and use in their own communications and social media channels.
You can access these eye-catching promotional assets and download all three guides by clicking here.
FWPA’s series of carbon guides was created in collaboration with thinkstep-anz and Dr Fabiano Ximines, Senior Research Scientist at the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Also new from WoodSolutions
WoodSolutions team has recently updated its Technical Design Guide Mid-rise Timber Building Structural Engineering to better cater to the changing needs of today’s structural engineers.
The updates were made in response to the increasing use of timber building systems in mid-rise construction, and the demand for engineering and design professionals to be familiar with requirements.
The guide provides structural engineers with the latest state-of-the-art design information to enable them to confidently design a mid-rise timber building.
Additionally, WoodSolutions recently published its 2023 Sustainability eBook, with a focus on the evolving landscape of sustainability in the built environment, as well as the actions being taken to address the changing climate.
