Timbers - EduqasSocial and ecological issues

When considering the ecological and social implications of using timber, the term deforestation is often used. Deforestation is when a clearing is made by chopping down trees.

Deforestation has a huge effect on the ecosystem and the people and specific breeds of animals that rely on them. The use of heavy machinery when processing pulp can lead to noise pollution or air pollution from the dust.

Without responsible management of deforestation, accompanying environmental issues can occur, such as:

• soil erosion that can lead to landslides
• an increase in global warming.

If more trees are planted than are cut, it is possible to minimise the environmental impact. Hardwood trees take a long time to grow in comparison to softwood trees so are more commonly planted in managed forests.

Supply and demand can cause issues for forest management. If the customer demands more timber because of an increase in purchasing, a forest management organisation could struggle as trees will take time to mature.

Alternative boards made from recycled timber are available.

Plywood, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), chipboard and blockboard can all be made from recycled timber. These recycled materials are made by gluing pieces of timber or fibres of timber together - the gluing process makes it very difficult to recycle the timber a second time around. MDF cannot be recycled and often ends up in a landfill site when it has reached the end of its life.

In order to reduce environmental impact, an analysis is carried out to review different stages of the material or product’s life cycle. There are two different cycles:

• linear - ending with disposal, adding waste to landfill
• circular - continuous and incorporate recycling to ensure materials and products are used over and over again

Life cycle analysis needs to be considered by the designer, the manufacturer and the consumer to reduce negative impact on the environment.