Opinions Archive

Communication is even more critical in crisis
21 April 2020 Like the rest of the business community, the timber sector is facing unprecedented challenges in the pandemic. It’s key to stay informed and keep communications channels open, says Timber Trade Federation MD Dave Hopkins

Sticking together
31 March 2020 Last week was a whirlwind for all companies operating in the building supplies chain, with adjustments due to the government’s announcement of restrictions on certain business operations to slow the spread of coronavirus, writes TTJ editor Stephen Powney.

United front urged to ensure safety regulations make sense
27 March 2020 The industry must press government to ensure new rules on use of combustible materials in construction are proportionate and risk-based says Timber Decking and Cladding Association director of operations Janet Sycamore

Ban must not impact UK’s Timber construction leadership
27 March 2020 In making the building sector more risk averse on use of wood, new regulation on use of combustible materials in and on external walls risks turning the industry off environmentally beneficial engineered timber-based construction, says Anthony Thistleton of architects Waugh Thistleton

A new challenge
27 March 2020 Just when we thought we had seen off the continuing uncertainty over Brexit and potential stalemate in UK politics, an unexpected challenge has raised its head. The spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) is starting to have an impact on the international trade of wood products.

Sourcing central to grading standards
25 February 2020 Source of timber origin is a key consideration in grading and machine and visual grading standards are being revised to take this more precisely into account. Dan Ridley-Ellis head of the Centre for Wood Science and Technology at Edinburgh Napier University reports

Seeing the wood from the trees
25 February 2020 With the increasing focus on construction products and building regulations it will be those manufacturers who provide strong performance and certification information who will benefit says Lee Jones, head of manufacturer services, NBS

Climate change debate intensifies
25 February 2020 Climate change is ratcheting up the agenda and we’re hearing more talk about it from ordinary traders now.

New Year predictions
29 January 2020 A new decade is here. Can you believe it is 20 years since the Millennium?

Catching the green deal wave
28 January 2020 European woodworking industries must work together to support and capitalise on development of a new low environmental impact economic model, says Patrizio Antonicoli, secretary-general of the European Woodworking Industries Confederation – CEI Bois

Clock is ticking for tropical forest sustainability
28 January 2020 The Fair&Precious campaign commits business to support sustainable tropical timber sourcing and communicates the multiple benefits of sustainable forest management, says Benoît Jobbé-Duval, managing director of the International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT)

General Election: forget Brexit, get Britain building!
19 December 2019 TTF managing director David Hopkins says politicians should unite around the need to solve the housing crisis

Different pathways - same destination
19 December 2019 The 2019 Sustainable Tropical Timber Coalition saw varying views expressed on the route to tropical timber sustainability, but agreement on the importance of getting there, reports Nienke Sleurink, programme manager at Netherlandsbased IDH-The Sustainable Trade Initiative

Christmas cards – going out of fashion
19 December 2019 This month we’re indulging a bit by using this December issue front cover as a giant Christmas card to all our readers in the UK and across the world.

Levelling the EUTR playing field a priority
26 November 2019 Only with uniform enforcement and due diligence support for importers can the EUTR keep illegal timber off the EU market, says Indra Van Gisbergen, forest and development campaigner at NGO, Fern

Tackling market and climate change
26 November 2019 The International Softwood Conference shone a spotlight not just on trade trends, but also the industry’s urgent need to rise to environmental challenges, says TTF president Charles Hopping

Get ready for voting!
26 November 2019 I don’t know if you are one of those people who look forward to a UK General Election.

Due Diligence: Not Always an Exact Science
23 October 2019 Due diligence is a continuous process, says Xiao Ma, sustainability manager at the Timber Trade Federation

Together we are stronger
23 October 2019 Getting Brexit wrong has far reaching consequences but by working together the building products sector can rise to meet the challenges, writes John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation

Fire issue remains hot topic
22 October 2019 The issue of fire and timber has been in the news again recently.