In the shadow of a looming climate crisis, the modern age construction industry is evolving. The for implementing sustainable practices has never been greater and the potential role of the circular economy is front and centre. It can play a pivotal role in transforming the industry by promoting sustainable practices which emphasise the need to reduce consumption of natural resources. Re-using timber in construction is one area where these resources can be conserved, deforestation mitigated and ecological footprints reduced in size. This paper summarises research undertaken on the Bournemouth groyne field during the period 2015 to 2020 and demonstrates how adapting construction practices can yield substantial timber recovery rates from deconstructed sea defence groynes. When a timber groyne is replaced there is an opportunity to re-use some of the timber from the deconstructed groynes on replacement groynes and timber that is not re-usable has the potential to be re-purposed. The data show that with careful deconstruction, substantial volumes of timber can be recovered from time expired groynes. This can have a positive impact on reducing the use of harvested timber which can place demand on forest resources and reduce carbon emissions associated with felling, milling and transportation over long distances.

Download document (770 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document