TIMBER CIRCULARITY

The  Timber Circularity Project  is a three-year nationally funded project which commenced in 2023 under the leadership of the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life ( NCTDDL ) at the University of the Sunshine Coast ( UniSC ). The project is funded by Forest and Wood Products Australia ( FWPA ), Australian Forest Products Association ( AFPA ), Wine Australia, Frame & Truss Manufacturing Association ( FTMA ),  Koppers  Performance Chemicals, Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia ( EWPAA ),  Hexion , and  Azelis .

The information and opinions provided on this site have been prepared for research purposes. Accordingly, any person using the information and opinions do so entirely at their own risk. The information on this site has been provided in good faith and on the basis that reasonable endeavours have been made to be accurate, not misleading and to exercise reasonable care, skill, and judgment in providing information and opinions.

Neither The National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life (NCTDDL), nor any of its employees, officers, contractors, agents, or other persons acting on its behalf or under its control accepts any responsibility or liability in respect of information and opinions provided in this Report.

This site provides information generated as part of the Timber Circularity project and forms an addendum to the geospatial data presented in the maps. Data related to unused timber resources have been mapped to provide a resource which will potentially aid in linking solution providers with timber resources available.

This site showcases work produced for the Timber Circularity project since inception in 2023 and provides information about data collection, logistics, potential circular solutions, as well as case studies and pilot project information.

This site can be scrolled through, or the menu bar at the top of the page can be used to jump to information of interest using the section headings above. 

Links to interactive maps, presenting our data are included throughout, along with links to pilot study information, project reports and other documents.

Within the maps, there are numerous layers symbolised with the following icons. These icons help with identification of resource, solution provider, or infrastructure where multiple layers are being viewed.

Within the dashboard application, data across various industries provide a host of valuable information. The location of available timber resources, solution providers, and support and infrastructure have been presented in map layers which are interactive and searchable.

The map can be focused on a specific resource by toggling layer visibility on and off. For example, if the interest is F&T offcuts, all other layers can re turned off, to provide a clear map of F&T facilities with data related to average volumes of unused resources and other information.

Clicking on an icon will provide the specific data for that feature in a pop-up. Points representing resources, solutions and infrastructure, including licensed landfills and councils with zero waste or circular economy strategies, have been developed. These icons help with identification of resource, solution provider, or infrastructure where multiple layers are being viewed.

For a more immersive map view, click on the full view option.

To determine solutions for the unused resource it is essential to understand the number of posts available, the volume and weight as well as the location of the resource. A variety of datasets were utilised to determine the amount of CCA and creosote treated posts being used in vineyards as well as the amounts, dimensions, weights and volumes of logs removed annually on a regional, state, and national basis, including:

• Geospatial data accessed through Open Data on the Australian Wine Geographic Indications (GI) Map
• 2022 Vineyard Survey of wineries across Australia
• Wine Australia National Vineyard Scan (NVS) 2019
• 2023/24 Post Detail Survey
• Site visits to various vineyards
• Discussions with Wine Australia representatives and winegrape growers

Results from the surveyed data included 341 unique responses and assisted in calculations of post attrition rates and posts removed. This information has been documented in the  Post Volume Report.  The information detailed in the report has been geospatially mapped.

The Wine Australia Survey posed the open-ended question, “How we can help vineyards manage their treated timber waste?” The results were focussed on six key categories:

1. Lobby government/suppliers
2. Condition of posts
3. Education/understanding
4. Cost
5. Considering alternatives to preservative treated timber posts
6. General comments

This information can help better understand the challenges and opportunities for the old posts and a has been documented in the Survey Response Report.

A survey is currently underway to collect data to aid with the understanding of unused/wasted EWP. The purpose of the survey is to collect data from fabricators using engineered wood products, to better understand timber resources that are wasted during fabrication and associated disposal costs. The information will be used to determine current quantities and types of resources that may be able to be redirected into other products and enable reuse/ recycling. The survey is open to all Australian fabricators of kitchens, office furniture, shop fittings or other products made from EWP.

The goal is to aid the industry to find opportunities to circulate unused resources into high value applications within a circular economy. All responses to the survey remain anonymous however there will be opportunity to provide contact details if you would like to be in the running to win a $100 gift card or to be further involved in this project. The survey consists of 22 questions and should take less than 10 minutes.

Once data is collected and analysed, results will be available here and will be published in project reports and others outputs.

For more information please contact us at:  timbercircularity@usc.edu.au