
It has created significant confusion across the industry, particularly as it becomes more widely used by professionals and the public. One of the most problematic areas of mis-understanding is the relationship between embodied carbon and the biogenic carbon in materials like timber – or as some might say, the carbon “embodied” in the timber.
Our position:
biogenic carbon storage should be a totally separate story
Timber offers clear carbon benefits, primarily through displacing more carbon-intensive materials. It also provides a means of long-term storage for biogenic carbon. However, this storage should not be conflated with the fossil fuel emissions associated with a building’s construction and lifecycle.
We believe the focus should remain squarely on reducing, and ideally eliminating, fossil emissions as quickly as possible. The storage of biogenic carbon may well have a role to play in future frameworks. But that recognition should come through dedicated mechanisms, not through carbon assessments.
Read more:
LinkedIn post from Paul Astle
WoodWorks Issue – 10 Jun 2025
Welcome
It’s mass timber Tuesday again which means we are in Christchurch running our South Island seminar and site visit. We’re delighted to have the chance to meet in person and hear from a group of practical architecture, design and construction professionals. The recounting of the case studies on these local building projects helps motivate the rest of us to meet our next challenging project with new ways to tackle them.
Make no mistake – the challenge facing us to grow timber in commercial construction will keep coming at us all. Thinking about the Theory of Constraints we can each take a gem of learning from today’s speakers and apply it to our next project challenge. Each new ‘aha’ moment in our day will help us get another client to experience the unique rewards from building in timber – this amazing natural resource we get to deliver.
Listening to a recent North American podcast, even their project managers talk about lack of critical mass, code acceptance, moisture matters and lack of supply chain experience over there. So take each timber project challenge in your stride and know you’re moving the needle in the right direction for more people to choose wood for good. To today’s speakers >>> thanks for being part of our timber team and sharing your learnings!


Embodied carbon is a misleading term

Mass timber meets workplace wellness

Timber and embodied carbon

