> TIMBER CARBON FOOTPRINT
06 April 2011
Calculated Values - New Trada Report
Widespread concern about global warming and carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions has led to growing interest in
understanding and measuring the level of emissions
associated with a wide range of human activities. One
approach has been the development of a product carbon
footprint, which attempts to assess emissions associated
with each stage of a product during its life cycle.
The timber industry has long been confident that, in terms
of its carbon footprint, timber’s environmental credentials
are sound. The value of using wood for the sequestration
of CO2 is described in a recent report for the Forestry
Commission, Combating climate change – A role for UK
forests. It concludes that if the UK could allocate a further
4% of its land cover to forestry by 2050, this would capture
and sequester CO2 equal to 10% of UK carbon emissions
anticipated for that time.
By quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for
different timbers, sourced from different locations, it
will be possible to compare emissions associated with
different species. The footprinting of a range of scenarios
will provide useful data for designers making calculations
during the early design stages of projects when selecting
timber products. It will also be possible to compare timber
with products manufactured from other materials.
Measuring CO2 emissions is not like using a ruler or a set of
scales. It is more like profit and loss accounting, weighing
up what is paid in against what is taken out. Assessing
the carbon footprint of any material is therefore complex.
In the case of timber, factors to consider include:
harvesting
primary processing (at the sawmill)
transportation to point of manufacture
secondary processing (in the factory).
In addition to the quality of the data used, the results are
influenced by the study’s boundary, ie factors included/
excluded in the study and assumptions made about eg
end of life treatments and the level of atmospheric CO2
held (sequestered) within the wood.
Calculated values
Timber carbon footprints
However, the quantity of timber required for a given
application will differ from concrete, steel or plastic. Thus,
it would be misleading to compare 1m3 of one material with
1m3 of another. The assessment must be on the volumes/
masses of the materials used for given applications.
Highlight the link below, right click and select "go to"
http://www.trada.co.uk/downloads/constructionBriefings/CO2%20Calculated%20Values.pdf?hl=carbon+footprinting%2Ccarbon%2Ccarbons%2Cfootprinting%2Cfootprintings
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