WOOD WISE
should minimise truck transportation distances. As a comparative
example, if you import logs from Mozambique to Cape Town by
truck and compare this to importing products from Brazil via
shipping, research shows that it would be better importing via
shipping rather than the truck option when calculating this factor in
GWP of the product.
CONCLUSION
Research has shown that the environmental impact of wood roof
trusses is far lower than light steel, even though manufacturers claim
being a comparative green option. South Africa has the forest
resources and products, so there is no excuse not to choose timber
buildings as a dominant material in construction, and by having a
larger wood-building market share there is significant reduction in
global warming potential. Finally, the global warming impact of
importing wood-based materials or products currently not available
in South Africa can be minimised by intelligent purchasing decisions.
Should further information on this research be required, you are
welcome to contact Stellenbosch University directly. This article is
published as a presentation from the 10 th Wood Conference held in
Cape Town at the end of February 2020.
*Note: there are of course challenges with this scenario because it
is not easy to use eucalyptus and acacia wood for some of the
products, where for others it wouldn’t be a problem. Many hours
are being spent at the university at the moment, where the focus is
on such solutions.
24 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 // www.timberiq.co.za