Along with three other leading timber and wood products organisations – Confor, Timber Development UK, and the Structural Timber Association (STA) – the STTA invited more than 40 businesses operating in the timber and wood product industry supply chain across Scotland to meet with MSPs and discuss the critical role it plays in both the Scottish national and rural economies, and its place in supporting the country’s drive to Net Zero.

MSPs Fergus Ewing and Willie Rennie, co-sponsors of the reception, each spoke about the benefits of timber as a low-carbon construction product; how timber planting, processing, and use in construction creates skilled career opportunities and supports employment in rural areas; and how Scottish Government policies on tree planting can support the long-term future of the industry.

Alex Goodfellow, CEO of offsite at the Fife-headquartered Donaldson Group and STA board member, also spoke about Scotland’s need to increase the production of timber as global demand grows, and to preserve jobs for the future.

Scotland’s timber and wood products industry contributes more than £1bn to the Scottish economy per year through homegrown product alone, and it directly supports 8.7% of the entire Scottish workforce, with 13.7% of all Scottish businesses directly involved in construction.

Mr Goodfellow said: “The reception was the first time the timber industry has gathered at Holyrood to discuss sustainability and how timber in construction supports the drive to Net Zero. Scotland excels at timber production, and we lead the UK in the use of timber frame construction, both of which support the country’s economy and sustainability goals. However, more production is needed.

“Global demand for timber is increasing and we predict that based on current production levels, we will be fighting for product by 2050. There is ample scope for increasing productive woodland in Scotland and especially as we promote increased use of timber across the rest of the UK, we have a great opportunity to further support the Scottish economy through the supply of this low carbon construction product.”

Crawford Churchill, STTA president, added: “As timber is increasingly recognised for its structural applications as well as its sustainability, it is important that we continue to advocate for both its production and its use in Scotland.

“As a low embodied carbon material that can be repaired, reused, and recycled, it has a vital role to play in construction here and across the UK. Bringing the industry together with policymakers at Holyrood in an important step in this process.”

Mr Ewing said: “The timber trade sector does a great job for Scotland and is vitally important. We must substantially increase productive timber plantings and see timber used more in construction here and south of the border.

“We should work cooperatively with the UK government on this endeavour. This meeting is a great chance to meet key players, hear their ideas and help MSPs understand how important is the work STTA members do.”

Mr Rennie said: “This is an opportunity for parliamentarians to fully understand this important sector, what makes it a success and what government needs to do to allow it to make an even larger contribution to jobs and the economy.

“There’s been much talk about tree planting from ministers to tackle climate change and biodiversity which is right, but we also need to understand that for construction purposes we also need to plant the right type of trees in the right numbers and ensure the supply chain and sector is working effectively.”