CO2 footprint from native lumber used in the construction industry from different types of harvesting

Abstract

The use of wood is often indicated as a decarbonization strategy for the construction sector. However, the CO₂ footprint of native wood, that is, the emissions during wood harvesting, transportation, and processing, depends on the type of forest management practiced. This study quantifies the CO₂ footprint of native rough sawn lumber from forests with three types of harvesting: sustainable management, conventional management, and conventional selective extraction (deforestation). CO₂ emissions were analyzed from harvesting to the end of wood processing based on data from the literature and the Construction Environmental Performance Information System. The CO₂ footprint of rough sawn lumber varies between 25 and 19,860 k CO₂/m³, with the lowest values for wood from sustainable management and the highest for conventional selective extraction. In addition, managed wood stores temporarily in its cell structure ~353 kgC/m³. Native wood from sustainable harvesting can contribute to decarbonizing buildings, whereas wood from conventional harvesting and deforestation are relevant sources of CO₂ emissions, considering the wood life cycle.