Let's
Set out the Facts and Arguments Properly
Dear Richard
You put your finger on the key issue regarding the debate over the environmental
credentials of the various window materials when you wrote 'it is not
just about the merits of one material versus another. By properly addressing
the environmental impact (or benefits!) of its products the entire window
industry will gain from increased consumer confidence and respect from
the wider construction community.'
From the perspective of the wood window industry, Sam Kennedy’s response
to Roy Wakeman demonstrates how little he knows about the sustainability
credentials of modern wood windows and the timber supply chain. I’ve
no doubt that his strength of feeling flowed from an equal and opposite
sense of a complete lack of understanding on the part of the wood window
industry as to why the PVC-U window industry can claim to be sustainable.
It wouldn’t be the first time that someone from the PVC-U industry
has said to me 'You don’t really believe all that nonsense you put
out about wood being sustainable, do you?' or that one of my own members
said 'How can they use an oil-based product and still say they’re
sustainable?'
I’m the last person to criticise anyone for putting the most favourable
spin on the information they have, but maybe this is a moment for everyone
to take a breath and just make sure that we understand what everyone else
is saying. In that spirit, I’d like to offer an open invitation to
Sam Kennedy and his colleagues in the PVC-U window industry to give us
the opportunity to set out the facts and arguments underpinning our claims
for the sustainability of 21st century wood windows, and for us to answer
their questions. If the PVC-U window industry is willing to reciprocate,
then even if we don’t achieve a meeting of minds, at least we will
have a better informed debate.
Yours sincerely
Richard Lambert
Chief Executive
British Woodworking Federation
55 Tufton Street
London SW1P 3QL
Direct tel 0870 458 6941
BWF tel 0870 458 6939
BWF fax 0870 458 6949
Web: http://www.bwf.org.uk
