Norbord, leading manufacturer of engineered wood-based products, is focusing on the housing association market due to its FSC certified portfolio.

"Housing Associations are becoming a growing force in the UK housing sector and are creating a growing trend in demanding the use of environmentally sustainable materials,” explains Jim Caldwell, Norbord’s Technical Services Manager.

One way they are making their demands known is through specifying FSC accredited material – timber which is taken from woodland that not only supports sustainable harvesting and replanting programmes, but also the holistic view of woodland use from habitats offered to wildlife and the impact on local people.

“Architects are telling us that housing associations are becoming much more stringent about the environmental credentials of the materials used in the construction of their houses. They want a clear and demonstrable commitment from suppliers that their materials are environmentally sustainable and one of the best ways to prove this is to use FSC certified timber,” said Jim.