Carbon footprint of engineered wood products: a review of production emissions and influencing factors

Abstract

Engineered wood products (EWPs) play a critical role in decarbonising the built environment. However. the carbon footpnnt of EWPs varies widely due to inconsistencies in data sources, system boundaries, and modelling approaches. This paper reviews 63 publications and reports to identify carbon emissions associated with the production stages (A1-A3) of EWPs, with a focus on regional trends, data transparency, and methodological consistency. We find that emission values range significantly - from 29.7 to 840 kg CO2-eq m-3 depending on location, product type, and modelling assumptions. Key influencing factors include biogenic carbon accounting, use of dynamic life cycle assessment, and the trea..