two people looking at timber with computers

With major industries like construction placing an increasing focus on carbon efficiency and footprints, as a distributor we need to be able to communicate directly and simply to all our stakeholders on the products we sell.

Working with Bangor University on this carbon calculator has been immensely rewarding as they immediately understood not only the business aims of the project, but how to best gather and present the information in a manner which would be easily accessible.

Ewa Bazydlo,  Environmental and compliance manager, James Latham

The Biocomposities Centre Life Cycle Assessment team, Campbell Skinner and George Roberts, both worked on the project.

“Providing a clear message as to the level of confidence within the data will also help achieve two key aims of ours; encouraging those involved in the design process to use the most efficient products available, but also pushing the sector towards a higher standard of carbon measurement.”

Senior life cycle assessment analyst at Bangor University’s Biocomposites centre Campbell Skinner said: “Working alongside industry is crucial to help identify areas where additional sustainability practices such as carbon monitoring or increasing energy efficiency in the production process can be implemented to further support the global shift to a net zero economy.

“Latham’s calculator represents a great step forward as it allows customers to enjoy total transparency with regard to the carbon impact and scientific accuracy of what they are purchasing.

“By including a certification as to the accuracy and peer-acceptance status of the data, the calculator will also ensure that the impact is pinpointed to a much finer extent than using rough estimations, allowing for a better picture of the difference more sustainable products make on projects.

“This will benefit not only end users who will be able to research and select the most sustainable products, but it will also encourage suppliers to take greater steps to ensure resources and their carbon footprints are measured and peer-reviewed.

“It has been excellent to work alongside Latham’s to produce this vital tool which will help inform customers from invoicing to delivery, and we look forward to working with them to continue to expand the goods covered over time.”

James Latham is one of the UK’s largest independent distributors of timber, panels, and decorative surfaces.

For more information on James Latham visit www.lathamtimber.co.uk, and for more information on Bangor University’s Biocomposites centre, visit www.biocomposites.bangor.ac.uk.

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