Why woodn't you?
A material we have used for thousands of years could become more important.
Summary: Developers in Finland are increasingly swapping concrete and steel for wood. With 75 percent of Finland covered by forests, wood is a readily available material for construction. We also look at things to consider, such as regulation, and other alternative materials.
Why this is important: Timber use in low rise residential buildings is already increasing. As it starts to be used in higher constructions, can buildings standards and the number of appropriately qualified people keep up?
The big theme: The built environment is an important sustainability theme, both as an integral part of societal existence but also a major decarbonisation (40% of energy-related GHG emissions) and resource consumption problem (40% of global raw materials) that needs investor attention. Including residential and commercial buildings, communal areas such as parks and supporting infrastructure such as energy networks and water supply, it can have significant impacts on our health, well-being and equity & inclusion.
The details
With 75% of Finland covered by forests, wood is a readily available material for construction. Finland is aiming to reach carbon neutrality by 2035 and given that wood has 20% to 30% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than concrete/steel/brick buildings, its usage will likely grow.
