Keeping Russwood green: our path to driving sustainability
At Russwood, environmental sustainability isn’t something we take lightly; it’s a core value that shapes our daily operations and long-term strategies. As a leading timber supplier, we recognise the significant benefits our industry can have on the environment. That’s why we are committed to minimising our carbon footprint and contributing to a greener future through a series of thoughtful, innovative practices. In this blog, we share our mission and the steps we are taking to ensure Russwood remains a company committed to driving sustainability in everything we do.
Our sustainability mission
Timber is a renewable resource with significant carbon capture properties and low embodied energy, making it the only truly sustainable mainstream building material. However, we are dedicated to further minimising our environmental impact to fulfil our responsibility to customers, employees, and stakeholders. Russwood’s sustainability mission is rooted in a deep respect for nature and a commitment to operating responsibly. We strive to waste nothing and reuse more.
Allowing our customers to make informed decisions on our timber
We recognise that architects and builders occasionally require quantifiable information about the sustainability of our products. To support them in specifying our most eco-friendly products more frequently, we have developed Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for our most popular offerings. These provide independently verified and standardised data about the life cycle of a product and its embodied environmental impact, enabling our customers to make well-informed decisions based on clear, reliable sustainability metrics.
Russwood is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified, ensuring responsible forest management, and PEFC™ certified, guaranteeing the chain of custody of our timber from the forest to the final product. Russwood’s FSC® and PEFC™ certifications guarantee that our timber is sourced responsibly, promoting sustainable forestry practices that protect natural ecosystems. This mission drives us to operate sustainably every day, constantly seeking new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future in the built environment.
Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is a crucial aspect of our journey. Over the past two years, we have made significant strides in this area by adopting cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions:
- Electric forklifts and company car: All but one of our forklifts are electric, as is our company car. These vehicles significantly reduce our reliance on diesel and other fossil fuels, helping to lower our overall carbon emissions.
- Photovoltaic panel systems: To further support our transition to renewable energy, we have installed 125kw photovoltaic (PV) panels that generate electricity for our operations. This clean energy powers our computers and charges our electric vehicles, significantly reducing our carbon footprint. As a result, our diesel usage has decreased by 86% over the past four years, demonstrating the effectiveness of our efforts.
Biomass boilers for heating sustainably
Heating our facilities sustainably is another vital component of our environmental strategy. We have invested in biomass boilers that use wood off-cuts from our production process as fuel. This approach not only provides a renewable heating solution but also contributes to a circular economy by ensuring that waste materials are repurposed rather than discarded. By using biomass instead of traditional oil-based heating systems, we save approximately 150,000 litres of kerosene each year. Additionally, shavings from our saws and planning machines are transformed into animal bedding, further reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency.
Supporting employees with a cycle-to-work scheme
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond every-day operations to include our employees. We encourage eco-friendly commuting through our cycle-to-work scheme, which supports staff members who choose to cycle to work instead of driving. By encouraging eco-friendly commuting, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint – but also fostering a workplace culture that values and prioritises sustainability.
Timber as a path to net-zero
As we move towards net-zero as a country and global, timber plays a central role in our strategy. Timber is a renewable resource that sequesters carbon, making it an ideal material for sustainable construction. At Russwood, we prioritise the use of wood in our building projects, this includes our new production offices, which are constructed using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT). This approach not only showcases the versatility and sustainability of timber but also aligns with our broader goal of reducing our carbon footprint and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.
At Russwood, we admit that achieving complete sustainability is a journey. While we have made significant progress in reducing our carbon footprint, we understand that there is always more to be done. Our commitment to continuous improvement drives us to seek out new and innovative ways to enhance our environmental practices.
By choosing Russwood, together, we can make a positive impact on the planet and
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