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IKEA is one of the world’s largest consumers of wood. Almost 15 million cubic metres of the material are used every year in cheap IKEA products with millions of trees felled for the mass production machine. Source: Danish Film Institute IKEA Loves Wood (‘IKEA elsker træ’) is a Danish investigative documentary that looks at IKEA’s forestry practices in the Rumanian Carpathian Mountains, an area with some of the last old-growth forests of Europe. Biologists, environmental groups and local activists say the Swedish furniture giant’s timber production is having a significant impact on old-growth forests and biodiversity. IKEA, however, states that it doesn’t tolerate illegal or unethical practices and that its suppliers are carefully selected. A trailer in English for the documentary is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IodzOvrrfNA The documentary is available to view in Danish with English subtitles at: https://www.dw.com/en/ikea-loves-wood/video-77861212

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A research initiative has demonstrated that there is “major potential” for English-grown timber in sustainable construction. The Building from England’s Woodlands project, funded by the Forestry Commission’s Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Fund, has demonstrated that England’s broadleaf forests could play a role in delivering low-carbon buildings, supporting biodiversity and strengthening domestic supply chains. Source: Inside housing The project, led by the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE), Edinburgh Napier University, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Ecosystems Technologies and dRMM Architects, explored how English-grown timber can be used more effectively in modern building systems. It found that English hardwoods can play a significant role in structural applications when selected and specified appropriately. The project also developed hybrid engineered timber products that combine hardwood and softwood within the same structural element. Testing showed that hybrid cross-laminated timber and glued-laminated timber products (glulam) met all required strength and durability criteria using existing manufacturing methods. The use of hardwood in key structural zones also allowed for material savings of approximately between 10% and 15%. Real-world examples included the Building from Forests display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the installation of a hybrid hardwood-softwood glulam beam in NMITE’s new Skills Hub building in Hereford. The project also found that the greater use of English timber could reduce embodied carbon, increase long-term carbon storage in buildings, support more resilient and biodiverse forests, and strengthen rural economies through local manufacturing and value-added processing. The findings mark a step towards a future where forests, manufacturing and construction work together to create sustainable buildings while supporting healthier landscapes and stronger local economies, the research said. The research also aligns with the UK government’s Timber in Construction Roadmap and wider net zero ambitions. David Bole, head of green economy and skills at the Forestry Commission, said: “By unlocking the potential of our forests, we can reduce reliance on imported and carbon-intensive materials, support healthier and more resilient woodlands, and create new opportunities for sustainable growth across the forestry, manufacturing and construction sectors.” Louise Rogers, impact manager of housing and manufacturing at BE-ST, said: “This work directly supports the ambitions of the Timber in Construction Roadmap by providing evidence that innovation, domestic manufacturing capability and supply chain collaboration can help accelerate the transition to a lower-carbon built environment.” Last month, researchers at the University of Manchester found that future climate change will need a clear shift in the sector towards summer cooling requirements in social housing. In April, a housing association urged social landlords to step up their efforts to improve biodiversity, saying it is “in the sector’s interest” to invest in nature recovery.  

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How is an energy shock driving up costs across the wood products supply chain and clouding the 2026 housing recovery. Source: Fastmarkets The North American wood products market entered 2026 carrying the weight of a difficult 2025. Weaker housing starts, modest repair and remodeling activity and declining furniture production kept demand under pressure across major product categories. Now, a new force is moving through the market: an energy shock tied to the Iran war. To understand why it matters, we need to compare where the market stood in 2025 with what the 2026 outlook now shows. From soft demand in 2025 to a cost-driven 2026 In 2025, the story was largely about weak demand. While softwood lumber demand declined, other wood products also saw a downturn, including US hardwood lumber, OSB, plywood, particleboard, MDF, I-joists, and LVL. Pricing for softwood lumber was weak in the third and fourth quarters, because demand decreased in the second half of the year and inventory built up. Now firmly into 2026, demand pressure remains, but a major energy disruption sits at the centre of the outlook. Approx 20% of global LNG supply and 15% of oil supply have been disrupted, representing what is the biggest energy supply shock in history. The result is a market dealing with both soft demand and rising input costs; a stagflationary shock. How the energy shock moves through the supply chain The effects are already visible across multiple stages of the wood products supply chain: Logging operations are feeling the squeeze from soaring fuel costs. We anticipate that a sharp rise in diesel prices in early 2026 could have a serious impact on logging activity in the coming quarters as consumer demand continues to be soft. Mills and wholesalers. Mills and wholesalers have introduced fuel surcharges to deal with the spike in fuel costs. These surcharges continue to challenge the middle part of the supply chain, with downstream users having little ability to absorb the cost increases. Resin and wax costs. For panel producers, resin and wax costs are a source of further pressure. These petrochemical products account for anywhere between 10-35% of variable production costs for products like OSB, plywood, particleboard and MDF. Shipping disruption is spreading from Europe to the Middle East, Africa and Asia as freight rates rise. That disruption creates additional uncertainty on key wood product trade routes. Consumer spending. Higher energy prices act as a tax on consumers. They reduce household wealth and weigh on discretionary spending, including home purchases and repair and remodeling activity. The energy story is therefore both a cost issue and a demand issue.   The key variables for a housing recovery Our analysis of the 2026 housing market suggests a potential recovery, but several challenges could stand in its way. Key variables, such as inflation and interest rates, will play a significant role. Uncertainty around these factors could influence Federal Reserve decisions, potentially keeping mortgage rates elevated. Additionally, we expect lower real disposable income, partly due to higher energy costs, to impact residential construction activity. Our forecast reflects this pressure on both new construction and remodeling projects, with the energy situation being a major influence on demand trends for 2026 and a potential rebound in 2027. So, why is this important for wood products? The sectors most crucial to this industry—housing, repair and remodelling, freight and logging—are very exposed to the unprecedented supply disruptions in energy markets, either through direct costs or the effect of higher energy costs on interest rates. While we don’t believe a recession is likely, discretionary and rate-sensitive parts of the economy that drive wood products demand remain vulnerable. The most direct signal to monitor is the pace of inflation, which has spiked due to the current energy supply chain disruptions. The inflation picture influences interest rates, which are a key headwind on housing affordability and discretionary spending for home improvement. Both of these are key to driving wood product demand. The quicker this inflation shock is resolved, the quicker a more sustained rebound in wood products demand will be realized. You can view the full report at https://www.fastmarkets.com/forest-products/wood-products/wood-products-market-analysis-2026/

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From a timber-built statue to creative glulam marketing concepts, students at Millicent North Primary School are proving they could be the next generation of Green Triangle timber ambassadors. Source: Timberbiz Grade five and six students have spent the past term exploring the potential of locally produced Glued Laminated Timber, known as glulam, and the opportunities it could create for regional manufacturing and construction. Using a problem-based learning framework supported by the Department for Education’s Student Pathways and Careers division, guided by Dr Sue Gaardboe, the 10-week initiative connected students with a genuine forest industry challenge. The project was developed in partnership with the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub (GTFIH), which has developed a world first glulam product made exclusively from locally grown bluegum (eucalyptus globulus). With the product now commercially available and entering early market adoption, the Hub recognised the value of gaining fresh marketing perspectives from young people as part of its broader market-building efforts. The first of its kind primary school program was facilitated by GTFIH Workforce Development Manager Lara Kroeger and supported by Australian Bluegum Plantations’ Georgina Macklin. Ms Kroeger said the project demonstrated the power of meaningful collaboration between education and industry. “This was not an easy project for the students to take on. Glulam is a technical product, and the topic asked students to think about forestry, manufacturing, marketing and community awareness,” Ms Kroeger said. “But the school fully embraced it, and it was fantastic to see the students’ curiosity grow over the term. The more they learned, the more confident they became in talking about our industry. By the end of the program, they had truly become young ambassadors for the role forestry and timber can play in our region.” Ms Kroeger said year 5/6 teacher Sarah Gellion played a key role in helping students explore a complex industry challenge in a practical and meaningful way. Throughout the term, students took part in classroom session on plantation forestry, glulam and the local timber supply chain, before heading into the field for a full-day excursion to see the industry at work. The showcase included a blue gum chipping operation hosted by PF Olsen (now Stand Forestry) and Qube Forestry; a softwood clear fall with OneFortyOne and Fennell Forestry; plus, a classroom overview about glulam manufacturing supported by WTIBeam. Drawing on their experiences, students presented their initial marketing concepts to industry partners, receiving feedback to refine their ideas before delivering their final presentations this week to a full house of parents, teachers and industry representatives. ABP’s Georgina Macklin said the students’ final ideas were shaped by the challenge that many people simply do not know what glulam is or where it can be used. “They turned that insight into practical ideas for increasing community awareness and showing the potential of increasing the usage of locally made glulam,” Ms Macklin said. ABP CEO Darren Shelden applauded the students’ creativity and enthusiasm. “The outcomes delivered in this 10-week program were exceptional,” Mr Shelden said. “It clearly demonstrates the value of problem-based learning when industry and education work together. These students developed a stronger understanding of our sector, sharpened their critical thinking skills and built confidence through public speaking and presenting. “Most importantly, this project reflects our industry’s commitment to investing in the next generation.” To recognise the students’ efforts, GTFIH and ABP gifted students LEGO harvester sets, while WTIBeam owner Jason Vulcz donated a giant Jenga set to the classroom and chopping boards for the teachers, all made from locally grown bluegum.

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WA has three programs underway to add more trees with Treebate, the Tree Recovery Program and now 850 trees to be planted in Perth. Source: Timberbiz South Perth planting The City’s annual tree planting program is underway, helping to increase canopy cover, provide shade, support local biodiversity and create greener neighbourhoods. This winter, 850 new 35L trees will be planted across streets and open spaces in the City of South Perth. The planting program began on 1 July and will introduce a range of native and locally suited species across verges, drainage sumps and public reserves. Planting is expected to be completed by the end of September. All 850 trees were grown in the City’s nursery, with 481 to be planted as street trees, 95 in drainage sumps and 274 in public reserves. The planting program features hardy native species, including coral gum (Eucalyptus torquata), white paperbark (Melaleuca preissiana) and marri (Corymbia calophylla), chosen for their suitability to local conditions. These waterwise, heat-tolerant species are well adapted to urban environments and will help create a greener, more resilient city that is better equipped to cope with a changing climate. The tree planting program forms part of the City’s broader urban greening approach, supported by its Urban Greening Strategy adopted in 2025, which outlines long-term efforts to expand canopy cover, enhance biodiversity and improve climate resilience across the City. Residents can request a street tree for their verge where there is suitable space. Approved trees are planted as part of the City’s annual winter planting program and receive regular watering during their first two summers to help them establish. Treebate program WA’s Government’s Treebate program was announced in January last year. The program aims encourage Western Australians to plant native trees on their properties. For the next four years, up to 10,000 Western Australians a year can claim a rebate on the purchase of a native tree to plant on their private property as part of the new Treebate initiative. Western Australians who purchase a native tree from a local nursery can make a claim of up to $150 via the ServiceWA app. All Western Australians aged 18 years and over are eligible to claim one native tree. To receive the rebate you must: Choose a native tree with a canopy that reaches at least three metres in height when mature. Have a photo of the plant label showing the scientific or common name to upload in your claim. Get a tax invoice as proof of purchase. You will need a valid tax invoice to claim your rebate.   Shot-Hole Borer program WA has been hit by the shot-hole borer and the state’s Tree Recovery Program supports people and places following the loss of trees due to Polyphagous shot-hole borer. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is managing the delivery of the WA Tree Recovery Program, working closely with residents, local governments and the Perth Zoo to replant trees lost from the effects of Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB). Shot-hole borer has been impacting trees in backyards across Perth in recent years. If you are a resident impacted by tree loss due to shot-hole borer, you may be eligible for a rebate worth up to $150 for every tree you replace.

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