The construction sector is one of Europe's most resource-intensive industries, but wood has considerable potential to help reduce its climate impact. Many wood resources that could be used in long-lasting buildings, remain underutilised, including hardwood, low-quality timber, damaged wood, and post-consumer wood, which are often burned or discarded. At the same time, construction relies heavily on a relatively limited range of commercial softwood species.
Assessing the climate benefits of wood also remains challenging. Existing methods are often complex, and do not always fully account for how long carbon remains stored in wood products. Regulations, standards, business practices, market conditions and public perceptions can also limit the wider use of circular wood solutions in construction.
WoodStock was established to tackle these challenges and support the New European Bauhaus by developing climate-smart solutions that increase the use of underutilised wood in construction. Its work combines four main areas.
Mapping wood resources, material flows and climate impacts:
WoodStock measures and maps wood resources, tracks material flows from forests to buildings and develops methods to assessing climate impacts. This includes a dynamic Life Cycle Assessment (d-LCA) approach that better captures how carbon storage in wood changes over time, within a broader sustainability framework that also considers social and economic aspects.
Developing zero-waste and circular solutions:
WoodStock develops zero-waste and circular designs for products, building elements and buildings, using underutilised wood, while also considering human health, well-being and cultural acceptance.
Addressing policies, standards and market barriers:
WoodStock investigates regulatory, standardisation, procurement and business barriers and develops strategies and guidance to support wider uptake of circular wood construction.
Developing the European Wood Construction Observatory:
WoodStock is developing an open digital platform, bringing together knowledge, good practices, standards, guidelines and building monitoring information for the wood construction sector.
Across six Living Labs in Slovenia, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, Norway and Poland, WoodStock brings together researchers, architects, engineers, manufacturers, students, public authorities, industry representatives and citizens to co-create and test solutions in real-life settings. The Living Labs explore cultural acceptance, social and economic barriers, well-being and stakeholder perspectives, influencing the uptake of circular wood solutions. By improving knowledge about wood availability and climate impacts, enabling greater use of underutilised wood, and supporting circular design and market uptake, WoodStock aims to reduce pressure on newly harvested timber and contribute to more sustainable wood construction in Europe. Its participatory approach connects these technical and market developments with the New European Bauhaus ambitions for a more sustainable, inclusive and high-quality built environment.
