Environmentally friendly structural softwood from Hyne
In an age where climate change and environmental credentials are
important community values, structural softwood producer Hyne is proud to reveal
that its extensive range of timber products are actually greenhouse positive.
Research presented by the NSW Department of Primary Industries* shows that timber
products store more carbon dioxide - and continue to store it throughout their
long service life - than that emitted in their manufacture.
"The presentation supports the claim that responsibly sourced plantation timber is
more environmentally friendly than other materials when it comes to building your
home," says Hyne Managing Director John McNamara.
According to Mr McNamara, scrutiny over choice in construction materials is the
next stage of green consciousness for Australian home builders.
"There's a lot of focus on building materials that have a low impact on the
construction site - but for materials to be truly 'green' in the broader context,
it's all about the impact of their manufacture," said Mr McNamara.
The concept is embodied energy, or the energy consumed by all the processes
associated in a material's development - from the mining and sourcing of natural
resources to transport and delivery. And expect to keep hearing more about it as
a lifecycle approach to energy assessment uncovers the whole picture.
"Choice of construction materials can significantly alter the amount of energy
embodied in the structure of a building," said Mr McNamara.
The Department's presentation to the Australian Plantation Products & Paper
Industry Council Forum in June, "From the log dump to the rubbish dump: The
greenhouse footprint of wood products in Australia", shows that wood products
continue to store carbon long after the timber is felled, with most of the carbon
remaining locked in the wood even after disposal in landfills.. Currently, this
environmental benefit is not taken into account in carbon trading schemes, which
assume that all carbon within a tree is emitted on harvest.
"Comparatively, the manufacture of steel burns non-renewable fossil fuels and
releases about 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide for each tonne of steel produced," said
Mr McNamara. "This puts to rest the myth that such a material can be more
environmentally friendly because it doesn't release carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere as it ages.
"The simple fact is, responsibly sourced plantation timber products, such as those
from Hyne, are one of the few manufactured building materials that actually help
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
A proponent of the environmental benefits of plantation pine, Hyne has recently
reinvigorated its corporate branding as it strengthens its commitment to sustainably
grown plantation timber production and supply in Australia. Mr McNamara said that with
origins dating back to Maryborough with Richard Matthews Hyne in 1882, Hyne is an
integral part of Queensland's building history.
"The environmental credentials of structural plantation timber over other building
materials alone, secures our future."
For more information on Hyne's products and services, call Hyne on 1300 304 963 or
go to www.hyne.com.au.
*2007 NSW Department of Primary Industries: "From the log dump to the rubbish
dump: the greenhouse footprint of wood products in Australia."
For further information contact:
Hyne Timber
phone: 1300 30 4963
fax: 1300 72 4963
web: www.hyne.com.au
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