Investigating embodied carbon calculations for timber - a step forward for the industry

Описание: In this presentation, Adam Faircloth from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Forest Product Innovations Group summarises key findings from a foundational project examining embodied carbon calculation methods for the timber industry.
The building industry accounts for around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and timber offers a genuine opportunity to help reduce this figure. With the adoption of the new ISO 13391 series (Parts 1-3) on greenhouse gas dynamics for wood and wood-based products into the Australian context, this work reviewed their relevance and compared them to existing Australian approaches for timber products, design and use.

Led by Rhianna Robinson, the project focused on the standards' framework, including:
Carbon balance values for forest systems (Part 1)
Methods for reporting greenhouse gas emissions (Part 2)
Biogenic carbon sequestration accounting

Key takeaways include:
A clear need for more informed decision-making when applying these standards
The standards represent a significant advancement for timber, especially in properly defining and accounting for biogenic carbon sequestration
Variations in assessment boundaries (e.g. cradle-to-gate A1-A3 vs cradle-to-grave A1-A5) can lead to different outcomes that must be carefully considered

This research sets the stage for DPI's next phase of work - detailed life cycle assessment (LCA) development through experimental trials and case studies, running through to June next year.

The full report is comprehensive and detailed - reach out to Adam Faircloth via the video details if you'd like a copy.

This project forms part of the broader effort to decarbonise the building industry through better carbon accounting and greater use of timber.

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