Wood-Based Products in the Circular Bioeconomy: Status and Opportunities towards Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

The circular bioeconomy offers solutions to curb the effects of climate change by focusing on the use of renewable, biological resources to produce food, energy, materials, and services. The substitution of fossil products by wood-based products can help avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle of products. However, it is important to understand the potential impacts of large-scale material substitution at the market level. This study aimed to assess the role of selected wood-based products in the circular bioeconomy, the possible changes in their markets, and investigate which elements could ensure the environmental sustainability of these products. The demand for graphic paper has declined over the last 15 years, while the demand for packaging has increased. Cross-laminated timber and man-made cellulosic fibres have seen their global consumption increase over the last decade. While there are benefits associated with the substitution of non-renewable materials by wood-based products, there is still limited understanding of the substitution effects at market-, country- and global level. Some factors enabling the further uptake of wood-based products include initiatives that stimulate technological change, incentives to produce or consume less fossil-based and more bio-based alternatives, and the promotion and marketing of wood-based products as viable alternatives to non-renewable materials.

Design of an integrated biorefinery for bioethylene production from industrial forest byproducts

“…89,90 Raw materials include straw, sugarcane bagasse, softwoods, and hardwoods, among others. 90,91 Softwoods are particularly valuable in developing stabilized carbon fibers from lignin since their higher lignin content than hardwoods contributes to segment expansion. 88 Fig.…”

Insights from Finnish Experts on the Construction Practices and Future Prospects of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)

“…A parallel exploration by Hassegawa et al [97] delved into key determinants that influence the widespread acceptance of CLT, shedding light on critical factors that can shape the trajectory of CLT adoption within the construction industry. Regulatory frameworks emerge as pivotal components, serving as catalysts for the adoption and seamless integration of CLT into conventional building procedures.…”

Unraveling the climate neutrality of wood derivatives and biopolymers

“…Aer carbon footprinting, climate change mitigation measures like switching to renewable energy, reducing material consumption, enforcing circular economy models through recycling, and switching to the use of bio-based materials in manufacturing may be enacted to minimize emissions. [13][14][15] In particular, a biomass-centric "bioeconomy" may contribute to the carbon neutrality revolution by increasing the amount of carbon-sequestering biomass being grown globally while lengthening the lifespan of bio-based products to serve as (temporary or long-term) carbon sinks, 16,17 and nally by replacing fossil-based products in broad-ranging and complex industries. 18,19 Within a carbon footprint analysis, biogenic CO 2 (originating from biomass) is usually accounted for separately from fossil CO 2 to represent the steady-state ux of biogenic carbon within the earth's carbon cycle; therefore, CO 2 stored in bio-based products can have a net zero carbon footprint.…”

“…As a feedstock with relatively low impacts, wood has increasingly been promoted as a renewable and climate-neutral bio-resource with the potential to store biogenic carbon in a variety of basic and advanced applications. 13,23 This paper therefore focuses on materials derived from wood and explores their role in achieving climate neutrality targets when used (either partially or fully) in place of fossil-based materials. To meet the functionality requirements of more advanced applications, wood may rst be broken down into its primary constituent components (referred to within this study as "wood derivatives") of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose.…”

“…Although there is a perception that the lifecycles of woodbased products are usually associated with lower carbon emissions, 13 there is still relatively limited quantitative evidence to validate their true environmental benets over fossil-based products. 26,[31][32][33] Hence, the goal of this study is twofold.…”