UK CLT

We turn circular economic theory into practical action, in pursuit of a sustainable and regenerative built environment

Materials for a
circular economy

The construction industry creates vast quantities of waste. Wood waste is currently chipped, downcycled and incinerated. UK CLT intervenes by capitalising on the structural and aesthetic properties of reclaimed timber. We turn it into a long-life, modular product:
cross-laminated secondary timber.

Research and development

The timber in existing buildings outweighs the stock in managed forestry in some countries, including the UK.

By repurposing discarded timber as a structural building component, cross-laminated secondary timber increases the built environment's capacity as a store for sequestered carbon.

Research and development

The timber in existing buildings outweighs the stock in managed forestry in some countries, including the UK.

By repurposing discarded timber as a structural building component, cross-laminated secondary timber increases the built environment's capacity as a store for sequestered carbon.

UK CLT creates benefits for:

People

New jobs in reclamation and local manufacturing close to cities
Fully traceable supply chain from source to end product
Socially fair supply chain

The environment

Lower carbon building materials
Localised waste management and material supplies
Reduced natural resource depletion

The economy

Mitigate against rising material prices
Designed for future deconstruction and high-value reuse
Reduced reliance on imports and reduced UK trade deficit

Our research is supported by Danish engineering consultancy, Ramboll, the National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research CE-Hub and EPSRC. With our partners at University College London, we are continuously building our understanding of the properties of secondary timber and methods for efficiently transforming it into new products.