DESIGNING PLAYGROUNDS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE

One of the biggest social concerns of our time is our “throw-away” society, and the tendency for products to have “built-in obsolescence” combined with overly processed materials that do not break down. Landfill is becoming a very real problem.

Timber Creations like to consider the end of the products life when designing playgrounds. This consideration does not compromise the value and play experience of the playground but allows the company to rest assure that its product will not end up in landfill and contribute to the waste crisis. This is why the team turns to natural timber for its playgrounds.

Natural timber is beautiful. It appeals to all the senses, with natural colours, textures and scents all being part of the package. Equally importantly, natural timber stores carbon and serves the environment as it performs its duty as playground equipment, and breaks down organically at end of life. This is such an important lesson for children when designing for the future.

Teaching the next generation about the natural world

Schools and preschools everywhere around the world now have sustainability and environmental concerns within its core missions of education. One of the best ways to work this into the learning environment is to think about the products students are using in their own daily lives. Natural play equipment changes over time, as part of the timber’s organic lifespan. This is an incredible lesson on how natural materials differ from plastic and metal that take hundreds of years to break down and show little change throughout its lifespan. Children spend a lot of time on natural play equipment exploring textures and different handgrips, and can notice changes caused by weather, age and use. This hands-on learning provides a valuable insight into the natural world.

Energy and manufacturing

Timber play equipment produced by Timber Creations is created by hand using very little machinery. This leads to both a higher quality product due to the attention to detail and hands-on approach, as well as a reduction in emissions during the manufacturing process. The production of plastics and metals as raw materials produce tonnes of CO₂, and the manufacturing process requiring specialised machines adds to this further. Timber Creations use collected and recycled materials rescued from landfill and give them a second life through hand sculpting and arranging pieces to enhance natural beauty.

End of life responsibilities

Timber has incredible carbon storage advantages over all other building materials. Every end-of-life disposal option for a timber playground has a positive carbon-storage result. If the pieces are recycled for other uses, they retain value, save alternative manufacture and store carbon. If they are left to break down naturally, even in landfill, they store 95 percent of carbon for over 30 years. If they are burned as firewood, they save the use of fossil fuels. When metal and plastic playgrounds are removed for disposal after the recommended 10 year lifespan, the focus must be on reducing the significant environmental damage they will do due to the slow break down and release of chemicals from these materials.

Playground lifespans

With annual maintenance natural timber playgrounds can be in service for 10 years without ever having to be closed for major servicing. This is a fantastic lifespan for a playground as trends and requirements change over the decade and updating for the new generation becomes essential. With this turnover in mind, it becomes increasingly important to focus on recycled, sustainable, and environmentally friendly materials.

Contact Timber Creations to discuss natural timber playgrounds for your next project via the links below.