12 February, 2025

Built by Nature Awards €146,000 Grant for Pan-European Research to Maximise Carbon Storage Potential of Timber

AMSTERDAM, February 12. Built by Nature has announced a €146,000 grant to systems  change think tank Metabolic Institute to lead a pioneering research project aimed at optimising Europe’s timber supply chain to maximise carbon storage.

Conducted in consultation with non-profit foundation Probos and CEI-Bois, (European Confederation of Woodworking Industries), the project will analyse existing timber flows across Europe and develop strategies to expand carbon storage pools through a process known as “cascading.” Cascading wood is the sequential exploitation of the full potential of the resource during its use. The three principles of cascading are: appropriate fit (high-value application), lifetime extension and quality conservation. The concept of cascading has a huge potential to store carbon for a long time and postpone CO2 emissions for decades. This initiative aligns with European Union Green Deal goals, targeting more effective carbon storage within the timber sector.

 

 

The research is designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of wood products’ value chain carbon dynamics, identifying key points where carbon emissions could be reduced through cascading. By exploring the entire life cycle of a range of wood products — including timber construction materials, paper and packaging, furniture, and finally, incineration for energy — the project seeks to reveal how Europe’s timber industry can become a more significant carbon pool, playing a vital role in climate mitigation.

Built by Nature Netherlands Network Lead Peter Fraanje promoted the benefits of cascading wood in his 1997 PhD dissertation, and sees the principles as being extremely relevant today:

“Built by Nature is excited by the possibilities of this project, as the cascading principles can help to make use of timber in a much more efficient way taking away the pressure on virgin resources, solving timber waste problem and postponing CO2 emissions. Cascading can enable us to promote the concept of optimal timber use, create a shift in industry mindset and offer relevant guidance to policymakers and industry leaders to drive sustainable timber practices across Europe.”

 

“Through this project, we aim to shift industry thinking toward a more sustainable and impactful use of timber resources,”

said Reinout Haisma, Biobased Construction Researcher and Consultant at Metabolic.

“Built by Nature’s support allows us to investigate new strategies to optimise carbon storage within Europe’s timber supply chain, potentially transforming how timber is sourced, processed, and utilised across the continent.”

 

The initiative will unfold over several stages, capitalising on the capabilities and expertise of each partner:

• Carbon Material Flow Analysis: Probos will lead an in-depth material flow analysis to map the lifecycle of wood products across Europe, including virgin and secondary wood, from demolitions and renovations. This analysis will differentiate between short-lived and long-lived timber products to highlight where carbon storage can be extended.
• Identifying Carbon Leakage Hotspots: Metabolic and Probos’ expertise in forestry and CEI-Bois’ industry insights will be deployed to identify points where carbon is lost prematurely due to short-lived wood uses. The project will propose ways to redirect these wood flows into long-lived timber construction products, significantly expanding the carbon pools.
• Strategy Development and Feasibility Analysis: Interviews with industry leaders and a thorough review of existing practices will support the development of actionable strategies for the cascading and redirection of wood. The team will assess feasibility, scalability, and potential impact, producing an implementation plan for industry and government adoption.

The findings and proposed strategies will be shared through a series of workshops, events, and videos, leveraging the extensive CEI-Bois network and the Systems Transformation Hub in Brussels. This knowledge-sharing will target designers, cities, forestry communities, and national and EU governments, fostering alignment and encouraging uptake of cascading practices.