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Energy and carbon balances of wood cascade chains

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  • Sathre, Roger
  • Gustavsson, Leif

Abstract

In this study we analyze the energy and carbon balances of various cascade chains for recovered wood lumber. Post-recovery options include reuse as lumber, reprocessing as particleboard, pulping to form paper products, and burning for energy recovery. We compare energy and carbon balances of chains of cascaded products to the balances of products obtained from virgin wood fiber or from non-wood material. We describe and quantify several mechanisms through which cascading can affect the energy and carbon balances: direct cascade effects due to different properties and logistics of virgin and recovered materials, substitution effects due to the reduced demand for non-wood materials when wood is cascaded, and land use effects due to alternative possible land uses when less timber harvest is needed because of wood cascading. In some analyses we assume the forest is a limiting resource, and in others we include a fixed amount of forest land from which biomass can be harvested for use as material or biofuel. Energy and carbon balances take into account manufacturing processes, recovery and transportation energy, material recovery losses, and forest processes. We find that land use effects have the greatest impact on energy and carbon balances, followed by substitution effects, while direct cascade effects are relatively minor.

Suggested Citation

  • Sathre, Roger & Gustavsson, Leif, 2006. "Energy and carbon balances of wood cascade chains," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 332-355.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:47:y:2006:i:4:p:332-355
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.12.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Risse, Michael & Weber-Blaschke, Gabriele & Richter, Klaus, 2017. "Resource efficiency of multifunctional wood cascade chains using LCA and exergy analysis, exemplified by a case study for Germany," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 141-152.
    2. Roope Husgafvel & Daishi Sakaguchi, 2023. "Circular Economy Development in the Wood Construction Sector in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-36, May.
    3. Höglmeier, Karin & Weber-Blaschke, Gabriele & Richter, Klaus, 2013. "Potentials for cascading of recovered wood from building deconstruction—A case study for south-east Germany," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 81-91.
    4. Chunyi Ji & Wenbin Cao & Yong Chen & Hongqiang Yang, 2016. "Carbon Balance and Contribution of Harvested Wood Products in China Based on the Production Approach of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-10, November.
    5. Renata Dagiliūtė & Vaiva Kazanavičiūtė, 2025. "Climate Change Mitigation vs. Renewable Energy Consumption and Biomass Demand," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, June.
    6. Dodoo, Ambrose & Gustavsson, Leif & Sathre, Roger, 2009. "Carbon implications of end-of-life management of building materials," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 53(5), pages 276-286.
    7. Höglmeier, Karin & Weber-Blaschke, Gabriele & Richter, Klaus, 2017. "Potentials for cascading of recovered wood from building deconstruction—A case study for south-east Germany," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 117(PB), pages 304-314.
    8. Mobtaker, A. & Ouhimmou, M. & Audy, J.-F. & Rönnqvist, M., 2021. "A review on decision support systems for tactical logistics planning in the context of forest bioeconomy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    9. C. Bergeron, Francis, 2014. "Assessment of the coherence of the Swiss waste wood management," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 62-70.
    10. Geanina Maria David & Elena Simina Lakatos & Laura Bacali & Gheorghe Daniel Lakatos & Brianna Alexandra Danu & Lucian-Ionel Cioca & Elena Cristina Rada, 2024. "Key Factors Influencing Consumer Choices in Wood-Based Recycled Products for Circular Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-20, October.
    11. Dodoo, Ambrose & Gustavsson, Leif & Sathre, Roger, 2010. "Life cycle primary energy implication of retrofitting a wood-framed apartment building to passive house standard," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(12), pages 1152-1160.

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