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A Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures

Author

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  • Joseph Abed

    (Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Scott Rayburg

    (Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • John Rodwell

    (Department of Management & Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Melissa Neave

    (School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia)

Abstract

The construction industry represents one of the greatest contributors to atmospheric emissions of CO 2 and anthropogenic climate change, largely resulting from the production of commonly used building materials such as steel and concrete. It is well understood that the extraction and manufacture of these products generates significant volumes of greenhouse gases and, therefore, this industry represents an important target for reducing emissions. One possibility is to replace emissions-intensive, non-renewable materials with more environmentally friendly alternatives that minimise resource depletion and lower emissions. Although timber has not been widely used in mid- to high-rise buildings since the industrial revolution, recent advances in manufacturing have reintroduced wood as a viable product for larger and more complex structures. One of the main advantages of the resurgence of wood is its environmental performance; however, there is still uncertainty about how mass timber works and its suitability relative to key performance criteria for construction material selection. Consequently, the aim of this study is to help guide decision making in the construction sector by providing a comprehensive review of the research on mass timber. Key performance criteria for mass timber are reviewed, using existing literature, and compared with those for typical concrete construction. The review concludes that mass timber is superior to concrete and steel when taking into consideration all performance factors, and posits that the construction industry should, where appropriate, transition to mass timber as the low-carbon, high performance building material of the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Abed & Scott Rayburg & John Rodwell & Melissa Neave, 2022. "A Review of the Performance and Benefits of Mass Timber as an Alternative to Concrete and Steel for Improving the Sustainability of Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5570-:d:809315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rachel Pasternack & Mark Wishnie & Caitlin Clarke & Yangyang Wang & Ethan Belair & Steve Marshall & Hongmei Gu & Prakash Nepal & Franz Dolezal & Guy Lomax & Craig Johnston & Gabriel Felmer & Rodrigo M, 2022. "What Is the Impact of Mass Timber Utilization on Climate and Forests?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-8, January.
    2. Ying Liu & Haibo Guo & Cheng Sun & Wen-Shao Chang, 2016. "Assessing Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) as an Alternative Material for Mid-Rise Residential Buildings in Cold Regions in China—A Life-Cycle Assessment Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Prakash Nepal & Craig M. T. Johnston & Indroneil Ganguly, 2021. "Effects on Global Forests and Wood Product Markets of Increased Demand for Mass Timber," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Arora, Sanjay K. & Foley, Rider W. & Youtie, Jan & Shapira, Philip & Wiek, Arnim, 2014. "Drivers of technology adoption — the case of nanomaterials in building construction," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 232-244.
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    Cited by:

    1. Agnieszka Starzyk & Kinga Rybak-Niedziółka & Aleksandra Nowysz & Janusz Marchwiński & Alicja Kozarzewska & Joanna Koszewska & Anna Piętocha & Polina Vietrova & Przemysław Łacek & Mikołaj Donderewicz &, 2024. "New Zero-Carbon Wooden Building Concepts: A Review of Selected Criteria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-28, September.
    2. Victor De Araujo & André Christoforo, 2023. "The Global Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Industry: A Systematic Review and a Sectoral Survey of Its Main Developers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Jiayi Li & Lars Vabbersgaard Andersen & Markus Matthias Hudert, 2023. "The Potential Contribution of Modular Volumetric Timber Buildings to Circular Construction: A State-of-the-Art Review Based on Literature and 60 Case Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-32, November.
    4. Carlos Rodriguez Franco & Deborah S. Page-Dumroese & Derek Pierson & Timothy Nicosia, 2024. "Biochar Utilization as a Forestry Climate-Smart Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, February.
    5. David A. Finnie & Rehan Masood & Seth Goldsworthy & Benjamin Harding, 2024. "Embodied Carbon in New Zealand Commercial Construction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-15, May.
    6. Ahmed Selema, 2023. "Material Tradeoff of Rotor Architecture for Lightweight Low-Loss Cost-Effective Sustainable Electric Drivetrains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, October.
    7. Luis Orozco & Anna Krtschil & Hans Jakob Wagner & Simon Bechert & Felix Amtsberg & Jan Knippers & Achim Menges, 2023. "Co-Design Methods for Non-Standard Multi-Storey Timber Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.
    8. Riley Jolly & Holly Fairweather & Scott Rayburg & John Rodwell, 2024. "Life Cycle Assessment and Cost Analysis of Mid-Rise Mass Timber vs. Concrete Buildings in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-18, July.

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