IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i2p718-d1569602.html

Steel–Timber Hybrid Buildings: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Study of Global Warning Potential Impacts

Author

Listed:
  • Dario Trabucco

    (Department of Architecture and Arts, Iuav University of Venice, 30135 Venice, Italy)

  • Giovanni Perrucci

    (Department of Architecture and Arts, Iuav University of Venice, 30135 Venice, Italy)

Abstract

Mass timber buildings are gaining momentum, as they are seen as an environmental alternative to conventional concrete and steel structures, and they are also being used for mid- and high-rise buildings. This study conducted a comparative LCA analysis of 20- and 40-story building structures made with different combinations of steel and mass timber. The results show that, even disregarding the environmental benefits of the sequestered biogenic carbon by using a 0/0 approach, timber-based structures result in a roughly 25% lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) impact than steel- or hybrid-based equivalent solutions. The results show that the contribution of steel does not bring any GWP advantage (an average increase of 20% is reported); however, steel–timber hybrid structures may still be the only viable solution to attain greater heights. This study also evidences that materials with lower GWP in their production phase can present a viable solution even when long transportation is required, highlighting the importance of the production phase to reach environmental targets.

Suggested Citation

  • Dario Trabucco & Giovanni Perrucci, 2025. "Steel–Timber Hybrid Buildings: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Study of Global Warning Potential Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:718-:d:1569602
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/718/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/718/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. L. Gustavsson & R. Madlener & H.-F. Hoen & G. Jungmeier & T. Karjalainen & S. KlÖhn & K. Mahapatra & J. Pohjola & B. Solberg & H. Spelter, 2006. "The Role of Wood Material for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 11(5), pages 1097-1127, September.
    2. Roni Rinne & Hüseyin Emre Ilgın & Markku Karjalainen, 2022. "Comparative Study on Life-Cycle Assessment and Carbon Footprint of Hybrid, Concrete and Timber Apartment Buildings in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-24, January.
    3. Yahong Dong & Md. Uzzal Hossain & Hongyang Li & Peng Liu, 2021. "Developing Conversion Factors of LCIA Methods for Comparison of LCA Results in the Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Pilar Mercader-Moyano & Jesús Roldán-Porras, 2020. "Evaluating Environmental Impact in Foundations and Structures through Disaggregated Models: Towards the Decarbonisation of the Construction Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-30, June.
    5. Petersen, Ann Kristin & Solberg, Birger, 2005. "Environmental and economic impacts of substitution between wood products and alternative materials: a review of micro-level analyses from Norway and Sweden," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 249-259, March.
    6. Joseph Abed & Scott Rayburg & John Rodwell & Melissa Neave, 2022. "A Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yuechen Wu & Chaofeng Zhang & Yanzhao Liu & Wenxuan Deng & Sanpo Jike & Fushen Liu, 2025. "Carbon Accounting in Construction Engineering: Methodology and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-38, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Luo, Wen & Mineo, Keito & Matsushita, Koji & Kanzaki, Mamoru, 2018. "Consumer willingness to pay for modern wooden structures: A comparison between China and Japan," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 84-93.
    2. Giovanni Perrucci & Dario Trabucco, 2025. "Exploring the Impact of Span Length on Environmental Performance: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Winchester, Niven & Reilly, John M., 2020. "The economic and emissions benefits of engineered wood products in a low-carbon future," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Chihiro Kayo & Ryu Noda, 2018. "Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Wood Use in Civil Engineering in Japan Based on Life-Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Riikka Siljander & Tommi Ekholm, 2018. "Integrated scenario modelling of energy, greenhouse gas emissions and forestry," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 783-802, June.
    6. Timo Herberz & Claire Y. Barlow & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2020. "Sustainability Assessment of a Single-Use Plastics Ban," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Dimoudi, A. & Tompa, C., 2008. "Energy and environmental indicators related to construction of office buildings," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 86-95.
    8. H. Böttcher & A. Freibauer & Y. Scholz & V. Gitz & Philippe Ciais & M. Mund & T. Wutzler & E.-D. Schulze, 2012. "Setting priorities for land management to mitigate climate change," Post-Print hal-00716172, HAL.
    9. Catalin Popescu & Hiranya Dissanayake & Egla Mansi & Adrian Stancu, 2024. "Eco Breakthroughs: Sustainable Materials Transforming the Future of Our Planet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-38, December.
    10. Lobianco, Antonello & Caurla, Sylvain & Delacote, Philippe & Barkaoui, Ahmed, 2016. "Carbon mitigation potential of the French forest sector under threat of combined physical and market impacts due to climate change," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 4-26.
    11. L. Gustavsson & R. Madlener & H.-F. Hoen & G. Jungmeier & T. Karjalainen & S. KlÖhn & K. Mahapatra & J. Pohjola & B. Solberg & H. Spelter, 2006. "The Role of Wood Material for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 11(5), pages 1097-1127, September.
    12. Das, Bhaskar Pratim & Deka, Shankar & Dettenborn, Taavi & Bordoloi, Sanandam, 2026. "Feasibility of machine learning application in pavement life cycle assessment: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    13. Ann Ingerson, 2011. "Carbon storage potential of harvested wood: summary and policy implications," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 307-323, March.
    14. Igor Catão Martins Vaz & Rodrigo Novais Istchuk & Tânia Mara Sebben Oneda & Enedir Ghisi, 2023. "Sustainable Rainwater Management and Life Cycle Assessment: Challenges and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    15. Agnieszka Starzyk & Kinga Rybak-Niedziółka & Aleksandra Nowysz & Janusz Marchwiński & Alicja Kozarzewska & Joanna Koszewska & Anna Piętocha & Polina Vietrova & Przemysław Łacek & Mikołaj Donderewicz &, 2024. "New Zero-Carbon Wooden Building Concepts: A Review of Selected Criteria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-28, September.
    16. Timothy O. Adekunle, 2025. "Evaluation of Energy Demands and Performance of Multi-Storey Cross-Laminated Timber Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Yvan Dutil & Daniel Rousse & Guillermo Quesada, 2011. "Sustainable Buildings: An Ever Evolving Target," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-22, February.
    18. Marwa B. Hannouf & Alejandro Padilla‐Rivera & Getachew Assefa & Ian Gates, 2023. "Methodological framework to find links between life cycle sustainability assessment categories and the UN Sustainable Development Goals based on literature," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 707-725, June.
    19. Sathre, Roger & Gustavsson, Leif, 2009. "Using wood products to mitigate climate change: External costs and structural change," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(2), pages 251-257, February.
    20. Jiayi Li & Lars Vabbersgaard Andersen & Markus Matthias Hudert, 2023. "The Potential Contribution of Modular Volumetric Timber Buildings to Circular Construction: A State-of-the-Art Review Based on Literature and 60 Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-32, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:718-:d:1569602. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.