The WPIF's primary function is not as a promotional organisation (more on WPIF's Priorities and Objectives in the About WPIF section) however on an occasional basis we may get involved in assisting with a promotional campaign with our members or cite information we feel relevant to our sector and its promotion.

Cascading (Waste Hierarchy) And The Circular Economy

The manufacture of wood-based panels helps with the efficient use of trees by using the small roundwood that is too small for the production of timber products, they utilise residues from sawmills and in addition wood is diverted from landfill or burning for energy recovery by recycling waste wood thus extending the time carbon is stored.

At the end of life either in a building or as other products such as furniture a wood-based panel can be recycled or burned for energy recovery. 

This video by the European Panels Federation (EPF) explains this in terms of cascading or the waste hierarchy and how the production of wood-based panels contributes to the circular economy.

The Construction Products Sector

- Video By The Construction Products Association

The video was produced by the Construction Products Association (CPA) (CPA’s YouTube channel) which has released the first in series of videos highlighting the importance of the UK’s construction products industry to the economy and society.

The Wood Sector In Construction

As part of the construction sector in the UK, but also non-construction sectors such as furniture, the wood sector employs approximately 80 000 people **, of which, approximately 7 500 work within the wood-based panel sector.

The UK’s total consumption of wood and wood-based panels was approximately 16 million m³ in 2016 with a value of £3.46 billion * . The wood-based panel sector as part of this contributes approximately £850 million to the economy each year.