Giving timber waste a second life through circular economy practices 

Reducing waste, promoting the reuse of materials and supporting a more sustainable built environment remain key priorities in delivering projects responsibly.

Since 2012, timber waste from Bouygues UK projects has been collected through our partnership with Community Wood Recycling (CWR), helping to keep valuable materials in circulation while creating environmental and social benefits beyond the construction site.

CWR is a network of wood recycling social enterprises that collect waste timber from construction sites and ensure materials are reused, recycled or repurposed wherever possible. Through this partnership, timber waste is transformed into reclaimed wood products, community workshop materials, recycled wood products and renewable energy sources, while also creating employment, training and volunteering opportunities for disadvantaged people.

Creating value beyond construction waste

Through this established approach, timber waste is diverted from skips and given a second life wherever possible. Long lengths of timber and sheet materials are reused within community workshops, pallets are transformed into reclaimed wood products, and remaining materials are sent to be repurposed into products such as chipboard, firewood and kindling, or used for waste-to-energy.

This approach helps us to:

• Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill
• Promote the reuse of construction materials
• Reduce demand for newly sourced timber
• Lower carbon emissions associated with waste disposal
• Create employment, training and volunteering opportunities for local communities

Delivering measurable impact across our projects

Through this established approach, 337 tonnes of timber were rescued from the waste stream, delivering environmental and social benefits.

This resulted in*:

• 167.8 tonnes of CO₂ saved
• 142.2 tonnes of timber reused
• 194.8 tonnes recycled – 57% was sent for recycling into woodchip, used in the manufacture of particleboard, animal bedding, or as carbon-neutral fuel in power stations.
• 48 weeks of training – 42% used by the community for DIY/building projects or made into a range of beautiful products from bird boxes to dining tables. Smaller pieces were made into firewood or donated to the community.
• 182 weeks of paid work created

*Impact estimates are calculated based on the volume of wood collected in 2025 and the total network social outcomes during the year of collection. Find out more at www.communitywoodrecycling.org.uk/our-measures/

Supporting the circular economy is an important part of our Climate & Environment strategy. By reducing waste and keeping valuable materials in use for longer, we are helping to build a more sustainable future for the construction industry and the communities we serve.

Find out more about our Climate & Environment approach https://www.bouygues-uk.com/our-approach/climate-environment/