Ecological assessment methods

Analysis and further development of ecological assessment methods to take into account the carbon sequestration potential of renewable raw materials

Experts in the field of wood-based bioeconomy agree that the cascade use of wood has great potential for environmental and climate protection. Each cascade represents a station in the life cycle of the raw material. Ideally, the energetic utilization of wood is delayed as the last station in order to bind the biogenic carbon (C) stored in the respective wood products for as long as possible and to release it Avoid carbon dioxide (CO2). The instrument of life cycle analysis (life cycle assessment (LCA)) has been established to assess environmental impacts.

In order to consider the positive environmental effects of the wood industry and its cascade use and to promote thinking in cycles in the industry, life cycle analysis is the instrument of choice for the ecological assessment of wood products. However, in LCAs, CO2 binding and storage duration in wood and other renewable raw materials (Nawaros) have so far been given little or no consideration.

Subproject 2 examines existing approaches and calculation methods for LCAs that deal with ecological assessment in the bioeconomy. In particular, the importance of CO2 binding and storage is highlighted. There are currently various approaches as to how the time of intake, the storage period and the new release of CO2 can be taken into account in the ecological assessment.

On the other hand, the material wood and its components are examined in terms of their ecological balance in various value chains and cascades of the project. Individual developments are therefore analyzed directly with regard to their environmental impacts in order to evaluate them compared to other alternatives or to identify potential.