In terms of the generated amounts construction and demolition waste, wood is second only to concrete in Finland. Construction sites create vast amounts of demolition waste every year, and sawmills, factories, and production facilities produce significant amounts of by-products. While today this wood material mostly ends up being used for energy, it could be used to make new products in a sustainable manner.

Author: Sini Koskinen, Puutuoteteollisuus ry

The circular economy opens new doors for wood because products made of wood can last a long time and be reusable over and over again. Increasing the use of recycled wood products not only reduces the need for virgin wood material, but also creates economic value for wood each time it is reused.

Innovation plays a key role

New innovative wood products play a vital role in the development of the circular economy as fresh solutions facilitate ever more versatile uses of wood. Digitisation in the wood recycling process also presents significant opportunities for improving efficiency and the conservation of resources, starting from the collection and sorting of wood all the way to processing. For example, smart sensors and monitoring systems could optimise the collection and transport of wood waste, reducing wastage and improving resource utilisation. Digital solutions can also improve the efficiency of wood sorting and processing, expediting the more accurate grading of recycled wood for strength, which then allows for it to be used in more applications on construction sites.

Digital technologies and services can also help increase the intangible value of wood products. Specifically, the value of wood products can be improved with digital technologies and services in ways not directed related to their physical properties. For example, this may include using digital tools when designing and manufacturing products, leveraging e-commerce systems to sell and market products, and adopting digital platforms to add value for product users by offering services such as information, training, or online communities.

From site-specific reports to national verification certificates

Today, the primary verification method for recycled wood products is the site-specific report. This means that each project must draw up a separate report on the use of recycled wood and its suitability for the intended use. Unfortunately, this does not guarantee the quality of the end result and may merely lengthen project schedules. The decentralised nature of this procedure also makes it difficult to scale up since there is no uniform and generally accepted practice.

This all means we need to move from site-specific approval towards a national verification certificate procedure, which would guarantee a predictable way of receiving product approval. This certification would facilitate the development of this business and the creation of a value chain for recycled wood products. It would also reduce the risks for everyone from manufacturers to product users. Right now, the lack of a uniform procedure is the biggest obstacle to the wider use of recycled products on the market. This bottleneck must be removed to give these products any real chance of entering the market.

The goal must be to make the production and use of recycled products economically viable for all parties while also making operations in the entire value chain of the wood industry more sustainable and efficient.

The Federation of the Finnish Woodworking Industries is currently setting up a recycling project for wood products and wood construction. The project is based on the circular economy criteria of the EU taxonomy. The project aims to find out where and how the use of recycled materials and products could be easier and more efficient in the construction industry and where challenges such as regulation make it difficult or even impossible to use recycled materials in some structural components.

The project will also determine what waste and side streams accompany wood products and construction, and what materials various industries could use in their processes. The goal is to create a sustainable and financially profitable business model for recycled wood.