It has long been believed that exposure to the natural world can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. 
Now this world of wellness is becoming a mega trend in the built environment, with building and interior design increasingly taking into account the health and wellbeing of occupants.

Studies examining the positive impact that greater exposure to nature/natural products can have on health and wellbeing have highlighted some impressive results:

  • Office design: productivity can be increased by 8% and rates of well-being increased by 13%*
  • Education spaces: increased rates of learning, improved test results, concentration levels and attendance, reduced impacts of ADHD*
  • Healthcare spaces: post-operative rates of recovery reduced by 8.5%, reduced pain medication by 22%*
  • Retail: the presence of vegetation & landscaping has been found to increase average rental rates on retail spaces, with customers willing to pay 8-12% more for goods and services*
  • Homes: 7-8 % less crime attributed to areas with access to nature and can command an increase of 4-5% in property price*

As part of this trend, specification and use of materials are coming under scrutiny as never before.

TTJ is organising a major conference in London in 2019 – Wood and Wellness – to look at wood’s role in this trend. Do trees and the wood products that derive from them have an opportunity the shape this new world of wellness?

The event on February 13 – aimed at the timber sector, architects, interior designers and construction professionals – will bring together an expert panel, from a variety of sectors, to discuss the role that sustainable timber can play, not only in building the world in which we live and work, but also looking at the positive effects that the sympathetic use of timber could have on productivity, learning, recovery from serious illness and general sense of wellbeing.
In a world of digital disruption and the internet of things, could our long term health and wellbeing be rooted in something as old as the trees?

We are happy to announce that Wood and Wellness is a CPD-certified event. CPD is the holistic commitment of professionals towards the enhancement of personal skills and proficiency throughout their careers. Continuing Professional Development is essential in helping you and your organisations to keep skills and knowledge up to date.

If you attend all the sessions at the conference you can be awarded up to 6 CPD points.

(data taken from the Workplaces: Wellness + Wood = Productivity report by Forest and Wood Products Australia, 2018)