Accoya used for riverbank defences on the Thames

In 2020, the UK Environment Agency chose to replace the hardwood boards of the Thames riverbanks in London with Accoya wood, a more sustainable material that supports biodiversity. These bank defences, in permanent contact with river water, were a demanding test for acetylated wood. A year after installation, the boards were inspected to assess the durability of the wood, the integrity of the glue-laminated joints and the degree of colonisation by algae and other marine organisms. The results proved very positive in every respect: no sign of deterioration or delamination, and a level of colonisation at least equal to that of the salvaged hardwood boards used for comparison. These encouraging findings gave the Environment Agency the confidence to consider using Accoya in other river infrastructure applications.