A recent study suggests that using cross-laminated timber (CLT) as a primary construction material could offer significant environmental benefits, such as carbon storage and increased forest cover. CLT is produced by stacking and adhering multiple layers of timber to form strong, lightweight panels that are fire-resistant.
Researchers sought to understand the broader effects of adopting CLT in construction by combining a life cycle assessment (LCA) with the Global Timber Model (GTM). This combination allowed them to evaluate both economic and environmental impacts. Kai Lan, lead author and assistant professor at North Carolina State University, explained, “The LCA tracks the environmental impact of the product from the raw material stage all the way to transportation, manufacturing, use phase and end of life.”
The study predicts that adopting CLT would necessitate larger managed forests for raw timber supply, potentially increasing global forest area by over 30 million hectares by 2100. However, this increase would not be uniform worldwide; while places like the United States and western Europe might see substantial growth in forestland, tropical regions near the equator could experience reductions in natural forests.
Economically, increased demand for CLT is expected to raise timber prices. The GTM projects a 26.3% rise in sawtimber prices and a 25.9% increase in pulp wood prices by 2100 compared to scenarios without CLT adoption.
The study also highlights significant carbon sequestration benefits associated with greater forest cover and reduced reliance on traditional construction materials like steel and concrete. Researchers predict an increase in land-stored carbon ranging from 20.3 to 25.2 gigatons by 2100 due to heightened CLT demand.
Lan noted that increasing CLT usage decreases demand for traditional materials: “When you use less traditional materials, you emit less greenhouse gases while creating those materials.” These findings were published in Nature Communications under the title “Global land and carbon consequences of mass timber products.” Co-authors include Alice Favero from Research Triangle International and several Yale University researchers.
