Do you want to source your timber sustainably but locally? Grown in Britain talked to leading UK processors, BSW Group, about championing homegrown timber and responsible supply chains.
Despite the availability of quality, sustainable, British-grown alternatives, the UK’s timber industry faces a startling reality – approximately 80% of timber used in Britain is imported. Timber merchants, sawmillers, manufacturers and suppliers are increasingly tapping into local timber sources to reduce carbon footprints, lower costs, secure supply chains, and meet growing customer demand for sustainable products.
Why choose UK-grown timber?
Grown in Britain (GiB) has been driving demand for homegrown timber through its certification scheme, ensuring responsible forest management and full supply chain traceability for over ten years. The benefits extend beyond simply ‘buying British’ – UK-grown timber can represent cost savings, boost local economies, enhance nature in the UK (one of the most nature-depleted nations on earth), and can offer a reduced carbon footprint and enhanced supply chain security.
BSW Group, the UK’s largest integrated forestry and timber business, has been a long-standing GiB certificate holder. Their ‘seed to sawn’ ethos, from growing saplings through to harvesting, processing, and manufacturing end products, exemplifies the full potential of the British timber industry.
Challenging misconceptions
One of the significant barriers to greater UK timber adoption is the persistent misconception around quality. Many architects and builders automatically specify C24 grade timber, effectively excluding British timber from consideration. “C16 timber, which is grown and manufactured in Britain, is perfectly suitable for the vast majority of construction projects,” explains James Brennan of BSW. “Yet many default to imported C24 without realising that C16 is more cost-effective and has a lower carbon impact.”
This perception gap exists even with evidence to the contrary – for example, major housebuilders have been successfully using UK-grown Canadian Lumber Standard (CLS) to stud their buildings for over a decade. Industry investment has dramatically narrowed the quality gap, with modern UK timber offering comparable performance to imported alternatives at a competitive price point.
New opportunities through a shifting market
Recent supply chain disruptions have created fresh opportunities for UK-grown timber. “We’ve seen a noticeable shift in the market over the last six months,” notes Sian Moreton, BSW’s Head of Sales. “For example, shortages of imported CLS timber have prompted our customer base to look more at UK alternatives. We’ve found once customers experience working with British timber, they have no quality issues – it’s opening doors to broader conversations about using more UK-grown products.”
The UK timber industry has transformed over the past two decades, with significant investment in quality, consistency, and supply chain integration. More work is needed to deliver the necessary planting regimes to support productive forestry: by choosing GiB-certified timber, you can help build a demand pipeline, which supports investment into better managed UK forestry.
By specifying homegrown timber, merchants, sawmillers, manufacturers, and suppliers can offer customers more cost-effective, environmentally sound solutions while supporting British forestry. With government roadmaps now explicitly supporting greater use of homegrown timber, there’s never been a better time to bring British wood into the conversation.
