For more than three decades, Khulani Timber Industries has operated in a sector that is often spoken
about in terms of durability, compliance, logistics, and cost. Yet the conversation has shifted. Climate
impact has become a defining metric for materials across agriculture, construction, and utilities. As a
supplier of SANS approved treated poles to South Africa, SADC, and international markets, we have long understood the environmental value inherent in sustainably grown timber.

What has been missing is a consolidated, South African specific analysis that quantifies this value in a
way that speaks to policymakers, engineers, farmers, and procurement officers alike. The recent report
prepared for the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA) by Crafford and Wessels
(2021) fills that gap with unusual clarity. It confirssms what many in the industry have intuited for
years: treated Pine and Eucalyptus poles used in South Africa are not merely lowcarbon
alternatives—they are net carbon sinks, storing more carbon than they emit across their life cycle.
This finding reframes the role of treated poles in national climate strategy and positions timber as a
material whose environmental contribution extends far beyond its functional use.

The report’s central finding is stark in its simplicity: treated South African Pine and Eucalyptus poles
exhibit a negative global warming potential (GWP) of between –186 and –572 kg CO₂eq per cubic
metre. In practical terms, this means that every cubic metre of treated pole used removes more carbon
from the atmosphere than it contributes through harvesting, processing, treatment, and transport.
When applied to agricultural systems—vineyards, orchards, and trellising—the effect becomes even
more pronounced. Depending on the layout and pole specification, the net carbon storage ranges from
–1,732 to –8,455 kg CO₂eq per hectare. These are not marginal gains. They represent a material class
that actively offsets emissions in a world where most construction and agricultural inputs add to the
problem. The contrast with alternative materials is equally striking. Concrete poles emit
approximately 1,462 kg CO₂eq per cubic metre, galvanised steel 789 kg, and fibrereinforced
composites 862 kg. Timber is the only option among them that moves the carbon ledger in the
opposite direction.

The tables below, reproduced from the SAWPA report, illustrate the comparative GWP values clearly.

Table 1: Estimated GWP impacts of three pole types for two species (kg CO₂eq/m³)

Species	Treatment	GWP (kg CO₂eq/m³)	System boundary	Source
Pine	Untreated	–761 (27)	Cradletogate	England et al., 2013
Pine	CCA	-190	Cradletogate	AWP, 2013
Pine	Creosote	–417 to –572	Cradletogate	Tellnes et al., 2016
Eucalyptus	Untreated	–757 (162)	Cradletogate	England et al., 2013
Eucalyptus	CCA	–186	Cradletogate	AWP, 2013
Eucalyptus	Creosote	–406 to –568	Cradletogate	Tellnes et al., 2016

Table 2: GWP comparison of representative utility poles (kg CO₂eq/pole)

Material	GWP (kg CO₂eq/pole)	System boundary	Source
Pine (CCA)	–190	Cradletogate	AWP, 2013
Concrete	1462	Cradletogate	Bolin et al., 2011
Steel	789	Cradletogate	Bolin et al., 2011
Fibrereinforced composite	862	Cradletogate	AWP, 2013

These findings matter because they align closely with how Khulani Timber Industries has positioned
itself in the market. As a company specialising in the impregnation and supply of treated poles since
1991, Khulani operates within a value chain that already prioritises sustainable forestry
partnerships, efficient logistics, and longterm durability. The report’s emphasis on the importance of
local sourcing and minimal transport emissions reinforces the relevance of Khulani’s operational
model, which includes an extensive truck fleet and established export logistics designed to optimise
transport efficiency. The study notes that transporting one ton of poles over 1,000 km by
truck results in approximately 88 kg CO₂eq, a relatively small figure compared to the ±1,691 kg
CO₂eq stored in that same ton of wood. This dynamic—where transport emissions are overshadowed
by the carbon stored in the product, supports the environmental rationale behind supplying treated
poles to regions where alternatives would carry far higher embodied emissions.

The report also addresses a persistent misconception in the South African market: that the country
lacks sufficient timber resources to support longterm pole production. In reality, South Africa produces approximately 17.5 million m³ of industrial roundwood annually, with significant volumes
available from pulp, board, chip export, and sawlog streams. Additional afforestation potential in the
Eastern Cape, KwaZuluNatal, and Western Cape could add more than 3.6 million m³ per year over
time. This context is important for any company operating in the treatedpole sector, as it underscores
the longterm viability of timber as a renewable, locally available material. For Khulani, whose
relationships with major timber growers and forestry operations form a core part of its supply chain
khulani.co.za, the report’s findings reinforce the strategic value of these partnerships.

Where the SAWPA report becomes particularly relevant to agricultural clients is in its scenario
analysis. Four typical planting layouts—wine vineyards, tablegrape vineyards, and two orchard
configurations—were modelled to determine the GWP impact per hectare. The results show that even
the lowestvolume vineyard layout stores more than a tonne of CO₂eq per hectare when using
CCAtreated Pine, and more than double that when using creosotetreated poles. Orchard layouts,
which require larger and longer poles, store significantly more carbon. These findings provide a
quantifiable environmental argument for farmers who are increasingly required to demonstrate
sustainability in their production systems, whether for export certification, retailer compliance, or
internal ESG reporting.

The illustrations below, also from the report, depict the carbonstorage potential of Pine and
Eucalyptus poles across the four agricultural scenarios.

Taken together, the data presents a compelling case for treated timber poles as a climatepositive
material class. For an industry often evaluated on technical specifications—diameter ranges, treatment
classes, SANS compliance, and service life—the environmental dimension adds a new layer of
relevance. It also aligns with the broader shift in global markets, where carbon accounting is
becoming a procurement criterion rather than an optional addon.
As a supplier delivering poles across South Africa, SADC, and international markets khulani.co.za,
Khulani operates within this evolving landscape, and the findings of the SAWPA report provide a
scientifically grounded narrative that supports the continued use of treated timber in both agricultural
and utility applications.
The report concludes with a reminder that trees and wood products are fundamentally carbonbased,
formed through the absorption of CO₂ from the atmosphere. Because poles require minimal
processing relative to other building materials, they retain much of this stored carbon throughout their
service life. Whether used in orchards, vineyards, transmission networks, or fencing systems, treated
poles contribute to climate mitigation simply by existing in the landscape. In a world increasingly
defined by carbon budgets and environmental accountability, this is not a trivial contribution. It is a
material advantage—one that the South African treatedpole industry, including companies like
Khulani, is well positioned to articulate and deliver.

Sources:
khulani.co.za Khulani Timber Industries website (https://khulani.co.za)
SAWPA Pole Report (Crafford & Wessels, 2021)

Written:
khulani.co.za Casper Erasmus, Jan 2026.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were developed with AI-assisted synthesis of academic and online data sources. Tools used include
Microsoft Copilot for source aggregation and NotebookLM for visualisation.