Adhesives’ Role in Cross-Laminated Timber for Sustainable Construction
The eco-friendly trend towards the use of more wood in construction is one way the industry is responding to demands from consumers for more sustainable buildings.
As with many aspects of economy, the construction industry is aware of and responding to demand from consumers to operate in a more sustainable way. The World Green Building Council recently published a report that “argues for systemic and integrated infrastructure solutions to improve sustainability outcomes.” According to the report, “The urban built environment alone is responsible for 75% of annual global GHG emissions, with buildings accounting on its own for 37%.”1 There are many elements within the construction industry that need to be addressed to improve its sustainability outcomes. Among those elements are the sustainable sourcing of raw materials and developing sustainable building materials that have a lower carbon footprint. The emerging trend towards the use of more wood in construction is one way the industry is responding to demands from consumers for more sustainable building practices.
An article published in the New York Times reports on the growing trend in Sweden and other Nordic countries towards larger buildings constructed of wood. According to the article, one of the major drivers in this trend is sustainability. Quoted in the article is Anna Ervast Oberg, a project manager at Folkhem, a real estate developer in Sweden that has committed to build new structures entirely from wood. Oberg told the New York Times that changing from a concrete structure to a wood structure results in a 50% reduction in emissions.2 Not only does sustainably sourced timber reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions from a construction project, but the wood in the building actually provides carbon storage.