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Review of carbon storage function of harvested wood products and the potential of wood substitution in greenhouse gas mitigation

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  • Geng, Aixin
  • Yang, Hongqiang
  • Chen, Jiaxin
  • Hong, Yinxing

Abstract

Global forests have the potential to significantly increase or reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration. Harvested wood products (HWP) are an important part of the forest-atmosphere carbon cycle. On the one hand, HWP can retain the carbon for various periods of time, depending on the end uses. On the other hand, using HWP in place of more GHG-intensive materials and using wood bioenergy to substitute for fossil fuels result in reduced fossil fuel emissions. However, critical methodological differences exist in existing literature in assessing the GHG effects of HWP and wood bioenergy substitution, and large diversity in system boundary, substitution scenario, study period, and reference baseline results in large difference in reported GHG effects of wood substitution. In the present study, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to (a) clarify the methodological issues in GHG effects assessments of HWP and wood bioenergy substitution, (b) summarize and compare the reported GHG effects, and (c) identify knowledge gaps to inform future research. We support the conclusion that to accurately assess the GHG effects, HWP and wood bioenergy life-cycle carbon analysis needs to be integrated with forest carbon balance analysis. Substituting HWP for non-wood materials appears to be more effective in reducing GHG emissions than substituting wood for fossil fuels. The time required to obtain net emission reduction for wood bioenergy in place of fossil fuels can be 0years, decades or more than a century, depending on forest biomass sources (e.g., harvest residue, standing live trees) and fossil fuels displaced. For HWP used to replace non-wood material, however, the time required to obtain net emission reduction largely remains a future research need. Overall, HWP and wood bioenergy originated from sustainably managed forests can significantly contribute to GHG emissions reduction in the long term.

Suggested Citation

  • Geng, Aixin & Yang, Hongqiang & Chen, Jiaxin & Hong, Yinxing, 2017. "Review of carbon storage function of harvested wood products and the potential of wood substitution in greenhouse gas mitigation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(P1), pages 192-200.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:85:y:2017:i:p1:p:192-200
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2017.08.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marek Potkány & Miloš Gejdoš & Marek Debnár, 2018. "Sustainable Innovation Approach for Wood Quality Evaluation in Green Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, August.
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    6. Charles Breton & Pierre Blanchet & Ben Amor & Robert Beauregard & Wen-Shao Chang, 2018. "Assessing the Climate Change Impacts of Biogenic Carbon in Buildings: A Critical Review of Two Main Dynamic Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-30, June.
    7. Mathieu, Valentin & Roda, Jean-Marc, 2023. "A meta-analysis on wood trade flow modeling concepts," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    8. Arnould, Maxence & Morel, Laure & Fournier, Meriem, 2021. "Developing the persona method to increase the commitment of non-industrial private forest owners in French forest policy priorities," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    9. Mengwan Zhang & Ning Ma & Youneng Yang, 2023. "Carbon Footprint Assessment and Efficiency Measurement of Wood Processing Industry Based on Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-24, April.
    10. Mariana Hassegawa & Jo Van Brusselen & Mathias Cramm & Pieter Johannes Verkerk, 2022. "Wood-Based Products in the Circular Bioeconomy: Status and Opportunities towards Environmental Sustainability," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-16, November.
    11. Kim, Do-hun & Sjølie, Hanne K. & Aguilar, Francisco X., 2024. "Psychological distances to climate change and public preferences for biodiversity-augmenting attributes in family-owned production forests," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    12. Jim Hart & Francesco Pomponi, 2020. "More Timber in Construction: Unanswered Questions and Future Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    13. Daiga Zute & Valters Samariks & Guntars Šņepsts & Jānis Donis & Āris Jansons, 2023. "Balancing Forest Regulations and Stakeholder Needs in Latvia: Modeling the Long-Term Impacts of Forest Management Strategies on Standing Volume and Carbon Storage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Sarah M. Anderson & Linda S. Heath & Marla R. Emery & Jeffrey A. Hicke & Jeremy S. Littell & Alan Lucier & Jeffrey G. Masek & David L. Peterson & Richard Pouyat & Kevin M. Potter & Guy Robertson & Jin, 2021. "Developing a set of indicators to identify, monitor, and track impacts and change in forests of the United States," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(1), pages 1-16, March.
    15. Elias Hurmekoski & Juulia Suuronen & Lassi Ahlvik & Janni Kunttu & Tanja Myllyviita, 2022. "Substitution impacts of wood‐based textile fibers: Influence of market assumptions," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1564-1577, August.
    16. Federico E. Alice‐Guier & Frits Mohren & Pieter A. Zuidema, 2020. "The life cycle carbon balance of selective logging in tropical forests of Costa Rica," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(3), pages 534-547, June.

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