Making sense of carbon, trees and timber
How much carbon is stored in a tree? How does that translate into cut timber and wood products? And how much carbon can be ‘banked’ by using timber for building houses? This communication project showed the carbon benefits of using wood and timber in the UK construction sector.
A Carbon Visuals Project
CLIENT
Wood for Good, undertaken by Carbon Visuals
PURPOSE
To find a new way to communicate the carbon benefits of using wood and timber in the UK construction sector.
DESCRIPTION
A series of short animated films and case study images using Wood for Good’s data to reach construction professionals, policy makers and the public.
How much carbon is stored in a tree? How does that translate into cut timber and wood products? And how much carbon can be ‘banked’ by using timber for building houses in the UK? These questions are raised and answered in a communication project that includes a series of short animated films and set of case study images created by Carbon Visuals for Wood for Good, the UK's wood promotion campaign. The aim was to find a new way to communicate the positive carbon benefits of using wood and timber in the UK construction sector not just to construction professionals but also policy makers and the public.
“The competence and skill you have in handling large data sets is absolutely fantastic. And you still delivered a wonderful set of visuals for us that we can continue to use for a long time to come.”
Given the wide nature of the brief we agreed with the client to start the project with a scoping phase. During this, it was decided to split the film into three separate sections that could each work as short stand-alone films, rather than only as one single complex narrative. In addition we agreed to create a set of case study best practice images showing the carbon ‘banked’ in high profile buildings and timber products.
“It has been very satisfying to shape and create a project which has both a business focus and important educational potential. I would like to see us working with more trade bodies and campaigns that have an important carbon message to get across.”
By liaising closely with the client in this initial phase we were able to spend time working up a communications plan, sourcing and examining appropriate data and creating draft film storyboards. This established a sound basis for the production schedule, culminating in all visual materials being ready for the campaign launch.
Data Sheet with methodology, data and references available here.
See Wood for Good website page here.
See our post-production video (giving insight from our clients on the project) here.
Emissions, sequestration & stored carbon on upland farms
The first animation film from Carbon Visuals shows the emissions, sequestration & stored carbon on ten upland farms in the Peak District National Park, UK. The core message is that these farms are performing an important role as guardians of a huge carbon store that is best kept in soils and vegetation.
A Carbon Visuals Project
Carbon Visuals have created this short animation film to show the emissions, sequestration & stored carbon on ten upland farms in the Peak District National Park. The farms extend over 1,500 hectares and comprise part moorland, part pasture.
The data was taken from ADAS Report Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) Farm Carbon Footprint and Water Audit Pilot Project.
The core message from the film is that these farms are not only producing food and preserving the landscape. They are performing an important role as guardians of a huge carbon store that is best kept in soils and vegetation.
We believe that this is a 'world first' for this type of medium. Created for the consultancy ADAS, the film demonstrates the potential for moving animation to communicate complex carbon stories.
The film is being used to engage a variety of stakeholders including ADAS staff, farm managers and agricultural policymakers.
If you like this approach, and feel that it would suit your particular carbon communication challenge, then please contact us.