The so-called “harvested wood products”, such as sawn wood, wood-based panels and paper retain the carbon taken out of the atmosphere by trees. This is known as carbon storage. Processing wood to make these products often requires much less energy than those derived from other materials, and as such, wood has a smaller carbon footprint than other materials. Source: European Commission
In 2017, the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture adopted their Wood Charter 2.0, focussing on the contribution that wood sourced from sustainable forestry could make towards mitigating climate change, strengthen rural areas and conserve resources. Source: ‘Mitigating climate change. Creating value. Utilising resources efficiently. Charter for Wood 2.0’, German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Wood-based panels and their positive impact on the environment
Wood-based products, including wood-based panels, are an important carbon sink (retaining the carbon absorbed from the atmosphere by trees) and thus contribute to mitigating climate change. By using the full potential of wood in buildings and other applications, including substituting for less carbon efficient materials, it is estimated that Europe could reduce CO2 emissions by 300 million tonnes (15% to 20%).
Thanks to their positive effects on the environment, natural materials such as wood-based panels are well placed to contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
