Vastern Timber Endorses the Five Principles of Responsible Timber Construction
At Vastern Timber, we’ve always believed that how we use wood matters as much as where it comes from. Timber can be one of the most sustainable building materials available, but only when it’s sourced, processed and used with care, and with a long-term view of both buildings and forests. That’s why we’re proud to endorse the Five Principles of Responsible Timber Construction, created by Built by Nature , an organisation committed to accelerating the timber transformation and advancing a more regenerative built environment.
The five principles outline what responsible timber construction should look like across the whole life of a building and the supply chain that supports it. For us, they’re a useful reminder that true sustainability depends on connection between people, products, and the landscapes that supply them.
Principle 1: Extending the Life of Existing Buildings
The greenest building is often the one that already exists. Much of our work at Vastern Timber supports the repair, renovation, and re-purposing of older structures, using durable, high-quality timber products designed to last for decades. Whether it’s replacing cladding on a historic property or supplying English oak for listed buildings, we aim to extend the life of what’s already there rather than feeding a throw-away economy. Timber has always been a material of repair and renewal, and we want to keep it that way.
Principle 2: Accounting for the Whole Life Cycle
Understanding our environmental impact is essential if we’re serious about improving it. We’re currently undertaking our second full carbon impact audit to measure and better understand the emissions associated with our operations, from woodland to finished product. Alongside this, we’re renewing our Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for the Brimstone range of thermally modified British hardwoods. These data-driven assessments allow us to track progress and make informed decisions about how we source, manufacture and supply timber with the lowest possible impact.
Principle 3: Ensuring Sustainable Forest Management
Responsible timber construction begins in the forest. Vastern Timber holds both Grown in Britain and PEFC chain-of-custody certifications, which provide independent assurance of sustainable forest management and transparent supply chains. But certification is only part of the picture.
We actively support research and education aimed at improving UK forestry. Through direct funding, we help organisations such as the Future Trees Trust, which works to improve the genetic quality and resilience of broadleaf trees, and we sponsor the ongoing Wood for the Trees documentary series, a collaboration between our Managing Director Tom Barnes and filmmaker Charly Le Marchant, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing British forestry.
Most importantly, we continue to buy the majority of our timber from local woodlands, reinvesting directly into the management of those forests and the rural economies that depend on them.
Principle 4: Maximising the Carbon Storage Potential of Wood
At Vastern Timber, our philosophy has always been to start with the woodland and then build demand around what it can sustainably offer. Rather than chasing trends or exotic imports, we focus on what British forests grow well and how we can create long-lasting, high-value products from those species. Our Brimstone® range, thermally modified ash, sycamore and poplar, is a good example of that approach. By enhancing underused British hardwoods to match the durability of tropical timber, we help store carbon in buildings for longer while adding value to local woodlands.
Principle 5: Promoting a Timber Building Bioeconomy
Timber construction has the potential to reshape how we think about buildings, materials, and value. We see our role not only as a supplier, but also as an advocate for a more circular, connected timber economy; one that links UK woodlands with UK homes. Through our newsletters, films, and public engagement, we aim to share what we’ve learned and encourage others to build with care, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility to both people and place.
Looking Ahead
Endorsing the Principles of Responsible Timber Construction isn’t a claim that we have everything figured out, far from it. There’s more we can do to understand the true impact of our operations and the long-term benefits of the products we sell. There’s more to learn through collaboration, innovation and open conversation with architects, builders, foresters and policymakers.
But these principles give us a clear and shared framework to work within; one that reinforces our belief that responsible timber construction starts in the forest, continues through careful manufacturing, and ends in buildings that last.
