A new reports titled “Global Policies Influencing the Greater Adoption of Timber in Construction” by the Timber in Construction Steering Group identifies and summarises key policies, strategies and regulatory frameworks used in other countries around the world influencing the greater adoption of timber in construction.
The report also provides recommendations on the best practice in raising awareness of the benefits of using timber and the importance of long-term carbon storage in the context of climate change.
Global Policies Influencing the Greater Adoption of Timber in Construction
The Report concludes with the following:
To enhance the use of timber in construction, Ireland
can draw valuable lessons from international
practices. Below are recommendations based on the
successful policies, mechanisms, and levers adopted
by other countries highlighted within this report:
1. Education, Skills and Knowledge Initiatives:
Ireland should implement a skills and educational
framework to ensure workforce competency at all
levels with professional pathways, as well as broader
sector and public understanding. To enhance this,
promotion campaigns should be leveraged to
disseminate knowledge about timber use in
construction. This can include outreach activities
targeting both industry professionals and the general
public, as well as providing detailed guidance and
recommendations for using timber. Establishing
frameworks for upskilling and reskilling industry
professionals in timber construction techniques is
crucial to overcome highlighted skill gaps and
misconceptions about timber's strength, durability,
and cost.
2. Increasing Timber Supply: Increasing Timber
Supply:
To ensure an increasing sustainable supply of
timber, Ireland needs to continue to support the
expansion of the forest estate as outlined in the
Forestry Programme 2023-2027 and Irelands Forest
Strategy.
This could be done by adopting similar strategies to
those implemented in the Austrian and German
bioeconomy strategies and the Swiss Aktionsplan
Holz. Alongside this, enhancing the circularity of
timber in construction by extending its lifespan and
increasing the availability of wood fibre materials will
support sustainable practices and ensure a steady
supply for construction needs.
3. Implementing Carbon Reduction Strategies:
Adopting regulatory compliance measures that set
minimum carbon reduction targets, akin to those
seen in France, Denmark and the Netherlands, can
drive the use of more sustainable materials like
timber. Recognising and rewarding voluntary
compliance projects that achieve proposed targets
will further encourage the construction industry to
embrace timber for its environmental benefits.
4. Fast-tracking Embodied Carbon Thresholds for
New Build Homes:
By following Denmark's proactive
approach and establishing stringent embodied
carbon thresholds for new homes, Ireland can
accelerate its transition to low carbon building
practices, promoting the use of more sustainable
materials such as timber. This initiative would
support Ireland's climate goals, foster the
development of a green economy, and demonstrate
leadership in environmental responsibility.
5. Showcasing Demonstrator Projects:
Ireland should invest in demonstrator projects that showcase
successful timber adoption. These projects can range
from small-scale domestic buildings to large
commercial structures and entire urban
developments. Demonstrator projects will provide
tangible evidence of timber's potential and
performance, helping to build confidence and
interest in timber construction. Creating innovation
zones which showcase “best in practice” on real
projects, some with “iconic” status, would support
raising the profile of timber and remove barriers.
6. Providing Financial Incentives:
Financial mechanisms such as tax reductions, direct funding,
loans, and grants can significantly promote the use of
timber in construction. For instance, Austria and
Canada have successfully utilised financial incentives
to encourage timber adoption. Ireland can develop
similar financial support systems to lower the
economic barriers for early timber construction
projects.
7. Supporting Research, Development, and
Innovation (RD&I):
Investing in research, development, and innovation projects is critical to
validating new timber-based building technologies.
Ireland can take inspiration from the RD&I efforts in
Germany and Switzerland, which focus on both
academic and industry-led projects to advance
timber construction technologies. Encouraging
collaboration between universities, research
institutions and industry will foster innovation and
practical applications of new timber technologies.
Fostering a culture of research and innovation locally,
with connection to international networks and best
practice, will support new technologies. This should
include R&D investment and the creation of
collaborative frameworks.
8. Address Regulatory Barriers:
Ireland should give consideration to removing regulatory barriers,
including those on fire performance, where approved
guidance, robust details, safe practices, and scientific
evidence exist through global knowledge exchange.
9. Developing Robust Policies and Regulatory
Frameworks
Ireland should develop and implement
robust policies and regulatory frameworks that
support timber construction. Learning from the
comprehensive timber policies in countries like the
UK, Austria, and Finland, Ireland can create a
supportive regulatory environment that facilitates the
adoption of timber in the construction sector. This
includes reviewing and potentially revising building
codes and standards to accommodate and encourage
timber use.
10. “Wood First” Policy:
A specific example of this would be a provision relating to sustainability policy,
similar to that implemented in France, which requires
all publicly procured buildings to be built using at
least 50% timber or other natural materials.
Embracing this type of “wood first” policy would
stimulate Ireland's forestry sector and drive
innovation in timber technologies. It directly aligns
with global sustainability goals and would support
local economies by fostering demand for domestic
timber, ultimately positioning Ireland as a leader in
green construction and environmental stewardship.11. Central Coordination:
Recognising the importance of coordinating these fundamental
drivers, Ireland has the opportunity to unite industry
innovation, academic expertise, and the scale of the
public sector, through a new ‘Centre of Excellence’.
This dedicated national resource would support
sustainability goals, deliver future workforce skills,
and drive economic growth. This approach is evident
across many of the counties evaluated in this report.
However, ambitions for success must be match by
significant government investment, with the report
highlighting how funding was effectively used to
pump-prime many of the successful initiatives.
By adopting these recommendations, Ireland could
significantly increase the use of timber in
construction, leveraging its environmental benefits
and aligning with global best practices for
sustainable development.
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