Encouraging Councils and Governments Around the World to Adopt Timber-First Policies: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
The undeniable rise in Mass Timber Construction (MTC) on a global scale heralds the dawn of a new era for truly sustainable construction. The adoption of renewable materials in products such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) coupled with new construction processes optimises modern methods of sustainable construction. Councils and governments are beginning to initiate Wood Encouragement Policies (WEPs), setting guidelines that foster timber use in construction. Employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), the present paper sought to answer the question ‘how do we encourage/influence more councils and governments to adopt timber-first policies?’ – focusing in particular on the adoption of WEPs by councils and/or governments not attached to a forestry community from which social, environmental and economic benefits are derived. Ninety research items were identified as a result of the searches in known databases. Exclusionary and inclusionary criteria were applied resulting in sixty-two items qualifying for review. Results suggest councils and governments with no direct reliance on the forestry industry sector for economic benefit can adopt, or at least associate with, WEPs. Results are discussed and suggestions are presented to attempt to increase the adoption of WEPs by councils and governments across the world.
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