Coillte’s sustainable panel products selected by UK Green Building Council
The UK Green Building Council, a 'campaign for a sustainable built environment' uniquely brings together those involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of buildings, along with NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies. As the number one source of "green" information, events and activities for the built environment, 2011 saw their greatest involvement to date with the biggest ever Ecobuild, and the UK-GBC turned to the timber trade and Coillte Panel Products to provide sustainable timber and wood products for their stand and seminar theatre. UK-GBC stand space was approximately double the size of that seen at previous shows, and a 'Big Tent' theatre which delivered a full programme of content throughout the three days of Ecobuild was constructed within the UK-GBC Village Green. The stand has been reused five times, is highly sustainable and attracts a lot of attention, and in 2010 was hailed as a "shining beacon of sustainability" by the Guardian newspaper. The criteria for the new materials required for the stand and theatre was simply that they be as sustainable as possible. Coillte Panel Product's leading MDF brand Medite provided UK-GBC and stand builders Dacapo with Medite Ecologique MDF which has zero added formaldehyde and is FSC certified. They also supplied SmartPly OSB 3; a hard working but generally hidden structural wood-based panel product which is also FSC certified, has zero added formaldehyde and which is being increasingly specified and used with its raw surface exposed, offering a more rugged, natural design solution. Geoff Rhodes, marketing and business development director for Coillte Panel Products said, "We have long experience working with contractors around the world who need to meet strict criteria, and this is a great example where both Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB have been able to satisfy and deliver to specific requirements. The UK-GBC provides important, even essential information and advice and it was important for us that our sustainable panel product brands supported the UK-GBC's largest Ecobuild presence ever". The UK-GBC's use of Medite Ecologique MDF and SmartPly OSB were fully credited at Ecobuild on the Product Tower along with the products 'sustainability stories', on a rolling presentation on stand, and through the stand designers discussions with visitors throughout the duration of the show on the specification and use of the selected materials.
17 March 2011