Wood-based textiles & modern wood buildings: Environmental impacts beyond climate change

The production and use of wood-based textile fibres and engineered wood products in buildings have been identified as promising areas for carbon storage and greenhouse gas emission reductions. However, a number of other environmental impacts are reported as potentially being associated with the processing, manufacturing, use and disposal of (wood) products, including eutrophication, acidification, photochemical oxidant formation and human toxicity.

Currently the understanding of these impacts is still limited. To date, there are no systematic studies available that have examined the non-climate environmental impacts that occur throughout the life cycle stages of wood-based textile fibres and modern wood buildings. This study sets out to explore the potential non-climate environmental impacts of wood-based textile fibres and modern wood buildings. Based on comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and interviews with experts, we present the foreseen technological developments that support the development of wood-based fibres and modern wood buildings towards environmental sustainability. We also provide insight into the limitations to the development of wood-based textiles and modern wood buildings.