We are all becoming more aware of the impact that the choices we make have on the environment, with sustainability being key. Timber windows and doors from a Wood Window Alliance (WWA) member are the natural choice. Not only are timber windows made to WWA standards carbon negative, they are manufactured with low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds that damage the ozone layer) and are recyclable at the end of their useful life.

Windows made from sustainably sourced timber

Sustainable forest management aims to address deforestation and degradation while increasing benefits to people and the environment. Our members must hold either FSC® or PEFC™ chain of custody certification to show how they source timber from sustainably managed forests.

Timber sourced from sustainable forests not only means that more trees get planted than chopped down, but it’s a proven way to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Wood products are carbon stores and growing forests are carbon sinks.

The environmental impact of timber window frames

A report by Heriot Watt University on timber, modified timber and aluminium-clad timber windows shows how all the timber-based frames considered have significantly lower impacts than PVC-u equivalents.

The report demonstrated that timber window frames made to WWA specifications are carbon-negative over their original life-cycle. Across the estimated life-span of 60 years, each timber window installed instead of a PVC-u counterpart was shown to save 160kgs CO₂e – that’s over one and a half tonnes of CO₂e per average house of 10 windows.

To download a copy of the report ‘Whole Life Analysis of timber, modified and aluminium-clad timber windows’, click here. Alternatively, watch ‘Wood windows are greener than PVC-u‘, a short video that summarises the key findings of the report.