With the UAE and the region in general gradually moving towards the concept of 'green buildings', the Dubai WoodShow 2016 will give special attention to this domain in its upcoming edition, said the organisers.

A leading platform for wood and woodworking machinery in the Middle East, Dubai WoodShow will  highlight the latest sustainability-focused wood solutions during the three-day show which opens on April 4, they stated.

It will focus on highlighting various concepts related to wood sustainability to help manufacturers, wood associations to understand these facts and follow green methods, said Dawood Al Shezawi, the chief executive of Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions, the event organisers.

Much of the focus is on reducing a building’s energy consumption (such as better insulation, more efficient appliances and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning - HVAC - systems) and reducing the negative impacts on human health (such as controlled ventilation and humidity to reduce mould growth), remarked Al Shezawi.

"However, choosing building materials that exhibit positive environmental attributes is also a major area of focus. Unlike metals and fossil-fuel-based products such as plastics, wood has various environmental benefits especially when used in construction," stated the official.

It also has many positive characteristics, including low embodied energy, low carbon impact, and sustainability, he added.

Al Shezawi said the upcoming show will ensure that wood raw materials are produced and used in a sustainable fashion, mainly in construction, which accounts for around 70 per cent of the wood demand in the Gulf.

“Estimates show that mega building contracts are expected to be awarded in the coming period which puts more focus on the importance of growing and consuming wood sustainably,” he added.

Embodied energy refers to the quantity of energy required to harvest, mine, manufacture, and transport to the point of use a material or product.

Al Shezawi said wood, a material that requires a minimal amount of energy-based processing, has a low level of embodied energy relative to many other materials used in construction such as steel, concrete, aluminum, or plastic.

International experts from around the world will give insights on this topic and help the forest management industry understand the importance of following sustainable practices, he stated.

According to him, one of the greatest attributes of wood is that it is a renewable resource. "A wide range of efficient, durable, and useful wood products will be on display at the Dubai WoodShow 2016," he added.-TradeArabia News Service