04 December, 2023
Built by Nature announces funding to create Italian Network
AMSTERDAM December 5. Marking the next phase of expansion in Europe, Built by Nature is announcing a €119,900 funding grant to the Green Building Council Italia towards the development of a demand-side mass timber network in Italy, branded TimberForward Italia.
Following Built by Nature’s grant to an Italian consortium to understand barriers to mass timber adoption through the Perception of Timber project at MIND (Milano Innovation District) during 2022, project participants identified the Green Building Council (GBC) Italia as the most suitable local organisation to consolidate and coordinate an emergent mass timber network in the country.
Throughout the one-year project, GBC Italia and partners will work closely with local Lendlease staff from the initial MIND grant project to organise regular network gatherings, including audience-specific and broader industry. The scope also includes outreach efforts to expand the network, update the existing analysis of local barriers to mass timber and curation of solutions to overcome them.
Prioritising barriers identified in the initial grant, the network will focus on knowledge exchange and collaboration, advocating in favour of policy changes, establishing industry standards and certifications, and showcasing local success stories. Through close cooperation with Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, the network will ensure that engagement, commitments and outputs are grounded in evidence and research.
“This project represents a great opportunity for Built by Nature to help create, consolidate and grow of a network of demand-side organisations in Italy, unified behind a collective voice and mission,”
according to Built by Nature CEO Paul King.
“We’re optimistic about seeing progress in terms of more supportive policy, increased industry collaboration, and improved awareness and understanding of the benefits of using sustainably sourced mass timber as a climate and nature-based solution.”
Marco Caffi, Director of GBC Italia said:
“For decarbonisation of the built environment, solutions that use bio-based materials can represent effective strategies. In addition to reducing the energy consumption of a building, they allow carbon to be temporarily stored. To maximise these benefits and guarantee durability of performance for long time, however, an organised supply chain with specific skills is needed, which can enhance the use of construction wood which has been part of the history and tradition of many Italian provinces. This is the objective of the TimberForward project: to create a national network that shares technical skills and implementation experiences useful for becoming the standard for the public and private sector.”
The Green Building Council Italia will also work closely with Built by Nature’s Networks teams from the UK, the Netherlands and Spain, participating in network meetings and strategy workshops, and aligning with communications and fundraising activities.
About Green Building Council Italia
Green Building Council Italia is an independent Italian non-profit organisation based in Rovereto (TN) that promotes sustainable design and construction practices to reduce negative environmental impact while increasing profitability and improving building occupants’ health and well-being. GBC Italia’s members cover the whole construction stakeholders’ system, spanning from public administrations to manufacturers, from design firms to other services, from the finance sector to the NGOs, from developers to universities. GBC Italia goals are to drive radical change in the Italian built environment toward sustainability and work with industry, government and other decision-makers and stakeholders to achieve this change. This key objective is pursued by promoting green building programs, technologies, design practices and operations as well as the integration of green building initiatives into mainstream design, construction, and operation of buildings.