Timber and Wood Products emission factors
Timber is unusual among construction materials because growing trees absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere, creating a carbon store. The emission factor for timber depends on whether carbon sequestration is credited. Without sequestration credits, sawn softwood typically has an emission factor of 0.3 to 0.5 kg CO₂e per kilogram from harvesting, processing, and transport. With sequestration credited, timber can have a net negative embodied carbon figure.
Why it matters for carbon reporting
Timber is increasingly specified as a lower-carbon alternative to steel and concrete in construction. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam beams are enabling larger timber structures. For carbon reporting, understanding whether to include biogenic carbon credits and how to account for end-of-life scenarios is important for accurate disclosure.
Practical example
A commercial developer chooses a cross-laminated timber frame over a steel and concrete option for a four-storey office building. The timber frame has an embodied carbon of -150 kg CO₂e per m³ (including sequestration), compared to +350 kg CO₂e per m³ for the steel alternative, saving over 800 tCO₂e.
How to reduce timber and wood products emissions
- 1Specify FSC or PEFC certified timber for all procurement
- 2Consider timber as a structural alternative to steel and concrete
- 3Use engineered wood products (CLT, glulam) for larger spans
- 4Account for biogenic carbon consistently across your reporting
Sample emission factors
View allWood and Wood Residuals — Stationary Combustion
Stationary combustion — Wood and Wood Residuals
Wood logs (Combustion in wood stove)
MEEM et MLHD
Wood pellets (Combustion in wood stove)
MEEM et MLHD
Wood material for treatment, Re-processing of secondary wood material into new wood material
EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output
Wood material for treatment, Re-processing of secondary wood material into new wood material
EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output
Wood material for treatment, Re-processing of secondary wood material into new wood material
EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output
Wood material for treatment, Re-processing of secondary wood material into new wood material
EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output
Wood material for treatment, Re-processing of secondary wood material into new wood material
EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output
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