BSW Timber, James Jones & Sons and Glennon Brothers are delighted to announce the establishment of a unique partnership, as they join forces to promote UK timber and reduce reliance on imported materials.
In an industry first, the UK’s three largest sawmillers – BSW Timber, James Jones & Sons, and Glennon Brothers – have joined forces in a landmark collaboration to promote the use of domestically grown and manufactured timber.
Backed by leading trade bodies Confor (Confederation of Forest Industries) and Timber Development UK (TDUK), the initiative is a call to action for a more sustainable, economically sound future for the UK construction sector.
Despite the UK having a world-class sawmilling industry, it is the second-largest net importer of forest products globally, with 80% – worth £9 billion – of its requirements imported annually.
This over-reliance on imported timber not only weakens our domestic industry, but also undermines environmental progress, contributes to unnecessary carbon emissions, and reduces the potential for rural job creation.
Promoting C16 Timber: A Homegrown Solution
At the heart of the campaign is C16 graded timber – grown and manufactured in the UK. C16 is suitable for most standard construction applications, offering strength, versatility, and lower embodied carbon than many imported alternatives, such as C24 timber. It is a renewable, biophilic material that supports wellbeing and contributes positively to the built environment, which currently accounts for around 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions.
This collaboration supports the UK Government’s Timber in Construction Roadmap and aligns with national goals for decarbonisation, economic growth, and forestry expansion.
A Four-Step Approach: Grow, Manufacture, Specify and Build
The joint campaign lays out a clear strategy for progress:
• GROW: Increase tree planting, and replanting, to ensure the growth of productive woodlands in the UK, securing future timber supply and boosting carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and air and water quality.
• MANUFACTURE: Capitalise on advanced harvesting and sawmilling technology to maximise the value of UK timber, helping to sustainably decarbonise the construction sector.
• SPECIFY: Encourage architects, engineers, and contractors to specify C16 timber more frequently, reducing dependency on higher-carbon materials like concrete, steel and imported alternatives.
• BUILD: Leverage the full capabilities of C16 timber across construction, delivering cost-effective, sustainable solutions that also support the economy and rural employment.
A United Industry for a Resilient Future
The three sawmillers, who collectively produce the vast majority of the UK’s C16 sawn timber, are working with Confor to support an industry-wide rebalancing of supply chains, focussing on domestic timber production to help futureproof the UK’s timber requirements.
Speaking on the collaboration, Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive at Confor, said: “Global demand for timber is projected to rise significantly given its low-carbon benefits. If the UK wants a secure, consistent, and sustainable supply of timber material, now is the time to invest in our industry. Confor supports this collaboration as an important initiative to highlight how working together as an industry is key to securing the long-term future of UK timber.”
Mary Creagh CBE, Minister for Nature, said: “Our Plan for Change is focussed on creating new, green jobs, planting more trees, increasing access to nature and reducing carbon emissions.
“We currently import 80% of the timber we use and that needs to change.
“Our Timber in Construction Roadmap and the C16 campaign will boost the use of UK timber to help build the homes and schools we need faster and more sustainably.”
Through joint advocacy, public engagement, and cross-industry alignment, this campaign represents a pivotal step in creating a stronger, greener future using one of the UK’s most underutilised natural assets: our forests.
To find out more about the campaign, please visit: cti-timber.org/trust-uk-c16-timber
