Since 1840, Howarth Timber has been building Britain. Now we're helping build a greener one, with 100% legally sourced FSC and PEFC certified timber, solar powered branches, and a fleet moving to electric. We want to help our customers make strides in your own sustainability journeys, from government support schemes to products that will improve energy efficiency and lower energy bills.
Our Environmental Commitments
Across our branches and operations, we've made meaningful strides in reducing our environmental impact. Our buildings now run partly on solar power — generating 75MWh of electricity and saving 13,000kg of CO₂e in the past year alone.
Company vehicles are switching to EV and hybrid, our yards are trialling electric sideloaders to replace diesel-powered equipment, and we've introduced electric forklifts, biomass boilers and dust extraction across our sites.
Every lighting system has been upgraded to LED, and a bespoke energy management system now tracks utility usage across the whole Group so we can set meaningful targets and hit them. A dedicated Sustainability Manager leads this work, supported by a new waste strategy that accounts for what we produce and drives it down. We're also calculating our scope 3 emissions (the indirect carbon in our supply chain) so we can engage our suppliers and reduce our full footprint, not just the parts we directly control.
And to help our customers make more informed, low-carbon choices, we're developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for our products.
Responsible Timber Sourcing
Howarth Timber is committed to responsible timber sourcing and purchasing; every piece of timber we sell is traceable from forest to branch. Our Chain of Custody certification means your projects meet planning requirements and your clients can trust what goes into their buildings. Howarth Timber ensures compliance with the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
What is FSC Timber?
FSC timber is wood that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. View all of Howarth's FSC certified timber.
What is PEFC Timber?
PEFC timber has been certified by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. PEFC is a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. View all of Howarth's PEFC timber.
Our Chain of Custody Certification
Howarth Timber purchases all timber from legal and sustainable sources, and unreservedly condemns illegal logging practices. Chain of Custody (CoC) procedures ensure all raw materials meet the Government Timber Procurement Policy and former C.P.E.T. (Central Point of Expertise in Timber) policy.
Energy Efficient Products for Homes and Developments
Homeowners are looking for ways to reduce household bills, and improving energy efficiency and heating homes in more environmentally friendly ways are good for the bank account as well as the planet. With legislation such as the Future Homes Standards influencing house building in 2026 and 2027, Howarth has a wide range of product to help meet these standards, from air source heat pumps to improved insulation. Explore some of the ways to make your home more energy efficient and live a more sustainable lifestyle.
Air Source Heat Pumps
Heat pumps can reduce energy bills considerably, and work with radiators, underfloor heating and hot water tanks. Up to 75% of the energy required by the heating system is taken from the environment.
Solar PV & Solar Thermal
Solar power is a great way to harness the sun's energy to generate electricity, and it can have a significant impact on lowering your carbon footprint and reducing the cost of energy bills for new builds and retrofits.
Underfloor Heating
Underfloor heating can cut energy use in a typical UK home by up to 35%. Choose from electric or warm water underfloor heating systems, and pair with heat pumps for maximum efficiency.
Insulation
Government Grants & Schemes
The Government's Help to Heat Scheme is aimed at boosting energy efficiency for hundreds of thousands of homes through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Warm Homes: Local Grant, Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, Energy Company Obligation and Great British Insulation Scheme.
These schemes are funded by installers, local authorities and energy companies.
Whether you're building a new home, building a development or simply trying to save money on your energy bills, there is almost always a sustainable option available which can improve your energy efficiency, your carbon footprint and the money in your pocket.