Why We Work Under the Scottish Working Woods Label
- Scottish Wood
- Oct 15
- 4 min read
At Scottish Wood, our work is about more than just milling beautiful timber - it’s about caring for our landscapes, supporting local communities, and ensuring Scotland’s natural resources are used responsibly. That’s why we’re proud to operate under the Scottish Working Woods Label, a certification designed for small woodlands and sawmills that work with home-grown timbers. This label guarantees that our timber and timber products are made from sustainably harvested, Scottish-grown timber, reflecting our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible use of local resources.
"The Scottish Working Woods label is a guarantee that a woodland product contains at least 90% Scottish grown raw material and that the raw material has been harvested sustainably or is from a sustainable source."
This label is more than just a stamp of approval. It’s a promise that the wood we use comes from forests that are carefully managed, helping to protect biodiversity, support skilled local jobs, and reduce waste.
Why Choose Scottish Timber Over Imported Hardwood?
Reducing Our Dependence on Imports
The UK relies heavily on imported wood, with promising signs of improvement, but the majority of the timber used in furniture, construction, and joinery still comes from overseas. Yet here in Scotland, we have a rich supply of quality hardwoods that too often go underused, or worse, wasted.
By choosing Scottish timber with the Working Woods label, we can reduce the need for long supply chains, cut down on the carbon footprint of shipping wood around the world, and instead invest in our own economy.
Local Timber for a Net Zero Scotland
As part of the bigger picture - for Scotland to achieve net zero emissions (balancing greenhouse gas emissions with removal), together we need to:
Grow and harvest more timber locally (rather than importing it).
Use that homegrown timber in construction projects (buildings, infrastructure, etc.)
Why doe this Matter?
Sequester carbon: Trees absorb CO₂ as they grow, and when the wood is used in buildings, that carbon stays “locked away” for decades.
Resource efficiency: Relying on local timber makes the economy more self-sufficient and reduces reliance on imports.
Green jobs: Expanding timber production and use creates employment opportunities in forestry, sawmilling, construction, and related industries.
Lower emissions: Using timber instead of more carbon-intensive materials (like concrete or steel) helps cut greenhouse gases.
Community benefits: Investment in timber can help both rural areas (where small woodland and forests are grown and processed) and urban areas (where timber is used in construction), revitalising local economies.
Trusted and Transparent
When you buy wood that carries the Scottish Working Woods label, you know exactly where it has come from. Unlike imported hardwoods, there are no doubts about sourcing, and no risk of supporting unsustainable or unethical forestry practices.
Scottish timber is wood with a story - grown, felled, and crafted right here in Scotland.
Strength, Beauty, and Connection
Scottish hardwoods are every bit as strong and beautiful as their imported counterparts. Scottish Oak, Ash, Elm, Sycamore - these species have shaped Scotland’s landscapes for centuries, using them in our buildings, furniture, and interiors creates a genuine connection between the material and the place it comes from.
The Problem: Timber Going to Waste
Every year, vast quantities of hardwoods growing in Scotland go to waste. Many trees that are felled due to windblow, disease, or woodland management never make it into sawmills. Instead, they are chipped for biomass, left to rot, or simply discarded.
At the same time, millions of cubic metres of hardwood are still imported into the UK annually. This contradiction highlights a huge missed opportunity. If we made better use of the timber already available in Scotland, we could reduce waste, cut imports, and unlock the full value of our woodlands.
How Scottish Wood Helps Stop the Waste
At Scottish Wood, we see it as our responsibility to change the story. Instead of letting Scotland’s beautiful hardwoods go to waste, we actively work to rescue, mill, and repurpose them.
Sourcing from local woodlands - Much of our timber comes from trees that have been felled due to windblow, disease, or essential woodland management. Rather than being chipped or discarded, these logs are given a second life through careful milling and drying.
Championing native species - We specialise in Scottish hardwoods such as Scottish Oak, Ash, Elm, Sycamore, and Beech. Each species has its own character, and by showcasing their beauty and durability, we demonstrate that local wood can rival any imported alternative.
Closing the loop - By turning what might otherwise be wasted into unique flooring, furniture, cladding, and boarding for bespoke timber products, we reduce the need for imports while ensuring that the value of our woodlands stays within Scotland.
Sustainable impact - Every board and beam we produce supports rural jobs, strengthens responsible forestry management, and keeps value in local communities. By using native timber, we also help reduce the need for overseas logging, easing pressure on forests around the world.
Why This Matters
Environmental impact: Local wood means fewer miles travelled and fewer emissions.
Supporting Scotland: Every pound spent on Scottish timber supports local jobs and communities.
Sustainable forestry: Buying Scottish wood helps ensure forests are managed for the future.
Making use of what we have: Instead of wasting local hardwoods, we can celebrate and showcase them.
Sustainable Scottish Wood
Working under the Scottish Working Woods label reflects everything Scottish Wood stands for: sustainability, transparency, and pride in local craftsmanship.
Choosing Scottish timber is about more than just wood - it’s about building a greener, fairer future where our woodland and forests are valued, our skills are celebrated, and nothing goes to waste.
Bring sustainable, locally grown timber into your projects, Scottish Wood Sawmill & Timber-Shop is here to help. From flooring and cladding to bespoke furniture, joinery and construction, our native Scottish hardwoods and Larch deliver quality, character, and a story you can trust, supporting local communities and our forests every step of the way.
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