More self builders are choosing sustainable materials for their homes, looking for options that feel kinder to the environment. There are plenty of great choices out there now, but timber still stands out for its natural strength, comfort and low carbon benefits. It’s renewable, it stores carbon and it helps create warm homes that feel comfortable to live in.
Timber has been used to build homes for thousands of years, but more people are now turning to it for its natural sustainable strengths. It is renewable, low carbon and gives you a warm, comfortable home that performs well for years.
At Turner Timber, we’ve always taken sustainability seriously. It guides how we choose our timber and how we design and manufacture every frame.
In this guide, we’ll look at why timber frame is such a sustainable way to build and how our approach helps you create a home that’s better for you and the environment.
How Sustainable Is Timber Frame?
Timber frame is a very sustainable way to build, and the reasons are simple.
Timber is a renewable resource. When it’s taken from well managed forests, new trees are planted to grow in its place. These forests keep renewing and improving over time.
Trees also absorb and store carbon throughout their lives. When we use timber in a home, that carbon stays locked away for as long as the frame stands. It’s a natural way to cut the carbon impact of your build.
Why Sustainability Matters in Construction
Sustainable building is becoming more important across the UK. People want homes that are warm, efficient and built with care for the future. At the same time, the country is working towards major climate goals, which means the materials we choose matter more than ever.
Timber plays a key role in this. It has a low carbon footprint, strong energy performance and suits modern methods of construction.
Here’s how it helps:
Embodied Carbon: Lower Impact From Day One
Embodied carbon is the carbon released when materials are made, moved and built into your home.
Timber has the lowest embodied carbon of any major building material. When you choose timber instead of concrete or steel, you cut the carbon impact of your project from the start. This supports the UK’s wider net zero goals and helps you build in a more thoughtful way.
Energy Efficiency: A Warmer Home That Costs Less to Run
Timber frame construction helps you create a well insulated, airtight home. This means less heat escapes and you spend less on energy.
Our timber frame homes can cut the energy needed to heat your home by around 40 percent. You get a comfortable home with lower running costs and a smaller environmental footprint.
Manufacturing That Reduces Waste
Offsite manufacturing helps limit waste and improves accuracy. Every piece is cut to size in a controlled environment, so you only use what you need.
Our frames are designed using CAD to keep offcuts low. They’re made in our workshop in Hull, close to the main timber docks, which cuts transport miles. Working indoors also means fewer errors, better quality and a smoother build once the frame reaches your site.
A Circular Future: Built for a Low Waste World
Timber fits well into a circular economy, which focuses on reuse and low waste.
Wood can be reused, recycled or made into new products such as insulation. Less than 1 percent of UK timber ends up in landfill, which is already a great achievement. Building with timber today helps support a more sustainable construction cycle for the future.
Sustainability at Turner Timber
Timber’s sustainability benefits matter, but the way it’s sourced and made matters too. At Turner Timber, we build sustainability into every stage.
- We use PEFC certified timber from well managed Scandinavian forests. All timber is strength graded and checked by our skilled joiners. Our trusses and joists carry CE marking, which confirms they meet strict environmental and safety standards.
- We’re proud members of the STA, which gives you added reassurance that we follow best practice in design, engineering and responsible sourcing.
- Our team works with accuracy and care, and we’re committed to cutting waste and keeping our carbon footprint low across the whole process.
When you choose Turner Timber, you know your home starts with responsibly sourced materials and sustainable methods.
Build a Greener Home With Turner Timber
Timber frame is renewable, low carbon, energy efficient and ideal for modern sustainable homes. It helps you build in a way that feels good today and still makes sense years from now.
Sustainable building does not have to be complicated. With the right materials and a trusted partner, you can create a home that’s comfortable, efficient and better for the environment.
Ready to plan a self build? Get in touch with the Turner Timber team and start shaping your dream home today.
Learn More
- Timber in construction roadmap 2025. GOV.UK (2025).
- Sustainability. Structural Timber Association (2024).
- STA White Paper: Increased use of timber. Structural Timber Association (2021).
