Gulf Construction Online - Titan wood proves green credentials

Timber & Plywood

Scottish Widows, Edinburgh ... a Titan project.

Titan wood proves green credentials

01 May 2010

TITAN Wood says its high-performance Accoyo wood has enormous opportunities in the Middle East, one of the fastest growing markets in the world.

David Morris, vice-president of business development and licensing, says the latest environmental credentials earned by Accoyo have made it one of the most reliable and sustainable wood products in the world.
“Accoya wood is a non-toxic, modified and high-technology wood made from sustainably sourced and fast growing species, which is highly durable and dimensionally stable,” Morris says.
It has further proven its green credentials in two ways – as a low carbon alternative to construction materials and a ‘gold standard’ product under the Cradle-to-Cradle (C2C) certification scheme.
Morris elaborates: “Accoya wood has a very low carbon footprint compared with other conventional construction materials such as aluminium, steel, plastics (PVC) and unsustainably sourced tropical timber, as revealed by the recent carbon footprint assessment conducted by Camco, a leading environment consultancy.”
Camco assessed the carbon footprint of Accoya wood based on a cradle-to-gate scenario, that is, greenhouse gas emissions released between harvesting the sustainably sourced wood through to the wood leaving the factory gate.
Luke Purse, the Camco consultant, who led the study, says: “Both the construction and procurement sectors are becoming increasingly aware of the sustainability agenda and, crucially, so are their clients, and many are choosing sustainable products or materials. Our study demonstrates that Accoya wood is certainly a ‘low carbon’ option compared to many construction materials.”
Paul Clegg, chief executive officer of Titan Wood, says: “There is currently a heavy focus on forests and wood products as they can act as a potential carbon sink to mitigate climate change and substitute carbon intensive non-renewable materials.
“Traditionally, carbon-intensive non-renewable materials are chosen in building projects, but Accoya wood has revolutionised the industry by providing the best of both worlds in presenting a high-performing, yet sustainable wood with a low carbon footprint.”
Additionally, Accoya wood has gained new recognition as a ‘Gold standard’ product under the C2C scheme executed by environmental consultancy firm Michael Braungart and Michael McDonough (MBDC), to determine if products, services and buildings comply with the C2C principles towards sustainability.
Since Accoya wood is non-toxic and based on rapidly renewable wood species, it fits very well in the biological cycle within the C2C paradigm, and was therefore acknowledged as 100 per cent biodegradable by MBDC, which can either be safely composted or reused in the end-of-life phase, says Clegg.
Also, in terms of safe materials, responsible wood sourcing, water efficiency and social responsibility Accoya wood proficiently met the high requirements for C2C Gold certification, he adds.
Clegg comments: “C2C certification has become one of the most important eco-labels worldwide. Acquisition of C2C Gold certification confirms the anticipated environmental compatibility of Accoya wood.
“We are proud to be the first company in Western Europe to achieve the prestigious C2C certification for Accoya wood and we value the recognition for the hard work that has gone into making Accoya wood as environmentally competitive as possible.”
“C2C Gold certification will further strengthen our position as the world leader in wood technology and as a key contributor to a more sustainable building industry.”
Accoya wood is produced using a patented process that effectively converts sustainably grown softwoods and non-durable hardwoods into what is best described as a “high technology wood”. Distinguished by its durability, dimensional stability and its reliability (in terms of consistency of both supply and quality), Accoya wood is particularly suited to exterior applications where performance and appearance are valued, says the company.
Unlike most tropical and European hardwoods, its colour does not degrade when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Moreover, the Accoya wood production process does not compromise the wood's strength or machinability.
“The combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, durability and retained strength means that Accoya wood offers a wealth of new opportunities to architects, designers and specifiers. For marine uses where weight is also important, Accoya wood for the first time provides boat builders with a wood that is strong, lightweight, durable and which retains its natural beauty for far longer,” Clegg explains.
Titan Wood, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Accsys Technologies Group of Companies, unveiled Accoya wood at the Dubai WoodShow, the largest wood and wood machinery exhibition in the Middle East, which was held last month at Dubai Airport Expo.
Accsys Technologies is an environmental science and technology company whose primary focus is on the production of Accoya wood and technology licensing via its subsidiary, Titan Wood, which has manufacturing operations in Arnhem, the Netherlands, a European office in London and an Americas office in Dallas, Texas.