Another step is being taken towards a net-zero emissions future. High-value new construction products made from recycled wood and industrial wood waste residues are being developed. Alternative circular processes are being studied for both new building materials and composite building elements in a newly launched research project.
The environmental impact of the built environment and the construction industry is huge due to the extensive use of energy and resources. To change this, the transition to a circular economy is one of the key approaches to sustainable development and the solution to its environmental impact. A newly launched project DUET - Circular Design and Use of Wood Building Elements will increase the resource efficiency of wood use by studying the technical feasibility of using recycled wood and/or industrial wood waste together with new wood to produce new building elements for load-bearing walls and floors.
Using both recycled materials and/or residues can facilitate the manufacturing and market acceptance of the new products. The project studies both technical and environmental feasibility, but also the possibility of circular use of the new building elements. A future circular use means that the building elements will be easier to dismantle and reuse as elements or in parts for recycling of the sub-materials. This increases the lifetime of the building elements and helps to significantly extend the time of carbon storage and thus the strategies and targets for net zero emissions in society.
The development work with regard to material flows is done in co-operation with Forestia and Gällö Timber AB. The circular use of wall and floor elements is developed in collaboration with IsoTimber Holding AB and Masonite Beams AB. In the project, prototypes for wall and floor elements will be built and tested to verify that the technical and mechanical requirements for building products are met.
This is an article from our magazine Trävärden, view it here! (Link)
