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Environmental Commitment
Why our softwood products are a deeper shade of green
In an age where climate change and environmental credentials are important community values, Hyne is proud to reveal that its plantation softwood products are actually greenhouse positive.
Research presented by the NSW Department of Primary Industries indicates that timber products store more carbon dioxide, and continue to store it throughout their long service life, than the carbon dioxide emitted during their manufacture. This research supports our claim that responsibly sourced plantation timber is more environmentally friendly than other materials when it comes to building and renovation.
Scrutiny over choice in construction materials is the next stage of green consciousness for Australian home builders. While there is an increasing focus on building materials that have a low impact on the construction site, for materials to be truly green, in the broader context, it’s all about the impact of their manufacture.
The concept is embodied energy, or the energy consumed by all the processes associated in a material’s development, from the mining or sourcing of natural resources to transport and delivery. And expect to keep hearing more about it as a lifecycle approach to energy assessment uncovers the whole picture.
Choice of construction materials can significantly alter the amount of energy embodied in the structure of a building. The greenhouse footprint of wood products in Australia shows that they continue to store carbon long after the timber is felled, with most of the carbon remaining locked in the wood even after final, end of life disposal in landfills. Currently, this environmental benefit is not taken into account in carbon trading schemes, which assume that all carbon within a tree is emitted on harvest.
Comparatively, the manufacture of steel burns non-renewable fossil fuels and releases about 2 tonnes of carbon dioxide for each tonne of steel produced. This puts to rest the myth that such a material can be more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as it ages.
As well as being a natural product and infinitely renewable, the simple fact is, responsibly sourced plantation timber products, such as those from Hyne, are one of the few manufactured building materials that actually help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We see our strength as our commitment to sustainably grown plantation timber production and supply in Australia. It’s renewable, it’s re-cyclable, it’s waste efficient, its biodegradable it’s non toxic and its greenhouse positive. These environmental credentials for Hyne secure our future and help to protect our environment for future generations.
Hyne is leading the way in the Australian timber industry with environmentally friendly timber products that support Australia’s targets for a lower carbon future. The greenhouse footprint of Hyne products shows that they continue to store carbon long after the timber is felled. With most of the carbon remaining locked in the wood even after end of life re-use, re-cycling or disposal to waste. We are also in the process of targeting realistic energy saving targets for each Hyne operation and location
