Contribution of wood products to climate change mitigation

Abstract

Wood products have the potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and carbon storage, and thus to contribute to climate change mitigation strategies. However, there is confusion regarding the pathways for which the environmental benefits can be accrued and what methodology is best to quantify the benefits. At the same time, the climate change mitigation potential of emerging forest materials as substitutes of synthetic materials in furniture, building, packaging and other sectors is largely unknown. The state of knowledge on carbon storage and the climate change mitigation potential of wood products is thus incomplete, and this fact hinders an informed policy-making as to sustain and enhance the role of products from Swedish forests in the climate transition. The project aims to elucidate the climate change mitigation potential of wood products, and the specific objectives are to: i) review and analyse previous research and knowledge gaps regarding the environmental benefits of wood products; ii) determine the environmental impact and economic performance of emerging forest materials as substitutes of synthetic materials used today in furniture and building; iii) evaluate scenarios for prolonging the life cycles of wood products; iv) identify improvement potentials of wood products from an environmental perspective; v) engage in communication and dialogue with stakeholders along the forest value chain to help achieve the necessary climate change transition