CINTRAFOR Researchers assess the role of mass timber in creating a resilient and sustainable built environment
Comparative Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments
CINTRAFOR research published since 2018 helped establish that mass timber buildings help reduce fossil fuel emissions by anywhere between 27% and 51%. However, after factoring in the environmentally beneficial impacts of stored atmospheric carbon in wooden structures, some of the buildings show up as carbon negative.
Academic Papers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352710219302542
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/144
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/24/13987
Mass timber adoption
A series of national and global analyses conducted by CINTRAFOR researchers demonstrate the potential for mass timber growth across three continents. The study results indicate that the increase in North America and Europe could be supported by wood sourced from sustainably managed forests
Academic Papers
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/24/13943
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/documnts/pdf2024/fpl_2024_nepal001.pdf
Panel production environmental assessment
A thorough life cycle assessment (LCA) of the production process is necessary to understand the relative environmental impact of any product or service. For wood products, this production process begins in the forests. Understanding forest management and sustainable harvesting practices is essential for developing the net environmental footprint of these wood-based panels. CINTRAFOR researchers are the stalwarts in the country in developing these panel LCAs. Here is a list of CLT and Glulam LCAs developed by the CINTRAFOR researchers:
Academic Papers
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/5/1278
https://corrim.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/cradle-to-gate-impact-analysis-glulam-pnw-se.pdf
https://corrim.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/LCAEnergyEnvironmentImpacts-CLTFromCoastalDF.pdf