A Step Towards a Greener Future – Official Launch of Report – Recommendations for Australian Government

by | Oct 30, 2024 | Industry News

L-R – Dr. Alastair Woodard (WPV), Kersten Gentle (FTMA), Lesia Goodwin (Gippsland Forestry Hub), Jon Lambert (Heartwood Unlimited).
L-R – Jon Lambert, Kersten Gentle, Lesia Goodwin, Dr. Alastair Woodard.
Written by FTMA’s Kat Welsh

FTMA, in collaboration with Wood Products Victoria, the Gippsland Forestry Hub, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, launched an important document on the 18th October 2024. The recently published Steps Towards a Greener Future is a report specifically highlighting what is needed to support an environmental trajectory for the future of Australian housing.

The concise and researched findings within the report, ultimately makes 23 recommendations on how Australian government could meet their environmental responsibilities (Net-Zero by 2050), as well as delivering their housing commitment of 1.2 million new homes over the next 5 years (National Housing Accord 2022). It looks at the different issues and provides a solution within 4 main categories.

The report focuses on carbon capturing, sustainable forestry, engineered wood design with offsite prefabrication, and ultimately the important message of ‘if we can build out of timber, we must’. It goes into details about carbon storage and how – like many other countries are fostering – Australia can make the best choices now to protect and contribute to global emission targets, as well as looking after the critical needs of housing its citizens.

The Morwell Innovation Centre (Victoria) hosted the launch which featured presentation from FTMA’s CEO Kersten Gentle, Wood Products Victoria’s Dr. Alastair Woodard, and Heartwood Unlimited Managing Director Jon Lambert.

Kersten introduced Carbon Warrior, FTMA’s environmental project arm, and talked about the original CW policy proposal 4 Steps Towards a Greener Future, carbon capturing, investing in renewables, and legislating requirements for bio-based materials in future construction. She exampled other countries that are already legislating the use of renewable materials into construction policies, and the necessity for Australia to follow suit. Sweden, Denmark, and France, are leading the way when it comes to green living and carbon emissions – all of which have progressing policies in place verifying the foundations of the Steps Towards a Greener Future report.
Alastair introduced the Steps Towards a Greener Future and gave an inspiring outlook over just how simple the answers could be with the right policies in place. “The building sector has a huge impact. We use 12-20% of the water consumption, 25-40% of energy use, we produce 30-40% of Greenhouse Gas emissions, and 25-40% of solid waste generations,” said Alastair. He spoke about looking at the impact of our choices when it comes to thinking about the bigger picture and the need to account for life cycle assessments in the future of construction – how the materials were mined, produced, shipped, erected, maintained, as well as end-of-life decisions (embodied and operational emissions). The report also focuses on the notions of circular economy and decisions for the beginning and end of intended purpose, that must be accounted for.

‘I can’t tell you what an opportunity this is at the moment for the forest and wood products sector. We’ve got this global concern about this big bad CO2, and we can do something really positive about it. It’s a once in a generation opportunity,’ said Alastair.

The 3rd presenter, Jon Lambert, gave a realistic insight into the sustainable forestry industry within Australia and the challenges that are faced by the sector when it comes to current government regulations. Currently, up to 40% of Australia’s demand for timber comes from overseas – with a country so vast it begs the question why aren’t we making it easier to plant more?

A panel discussion followed, particularly focusing on what the contents of this report can do to assist Australia moving into the future – supporting the environment, its people, economy, and industries. It was clear that governments, federal and state, need to drive a significant change.

For FTMA Steps Towards a Greener Future is a concise way to keep driving awareness and education for initially the frame and truss industry, but a much bigger picture that surrounds us when it comes to sustainable materials. The report will be sent to state and federal politicians and has already had preliminary interest from key political portfolios. It forms a blueprint for Australian government policy makers to refer to with all the key information they need to fully understand the carbon concepts.

This is everything in writing, in one document, highlighting the importance of timber construction, frame and truss, and the evidence that our sector are the forerunners of the future of Australian housing and environmental requirements.  FTMA are passionate about collaborating over, and delivering key research to support its members and the industry at large – standing by our commitment to ‘Support – Invest – Grow’.

To read Steps Towards a Greener Future, please click the link below.

Click Here to Read

For any further information please make contact with FTMA.

Our Principal Partners