Abstract

Research Highlights: One of the priorities of the European Commission is to build up an effective circular economy based on recycling and multiple use of materials. Wood biomass is a renewable raw material and can be used several times in a cascading sequence. Each country has a unique situation regarding the availability and utilization of wood sources. Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze wood flow in the Czech Republic using the cascading principle of biomass use. The specific situation in the Czech Republic lies in a lack of valid and reliable input data from official statistics. Therefore, the reverse input method was applied. Materials and Methods: Input data analyses of roundwood sources and foreign trade were based on official statistical data. The calculation of raw wood volume consumption in primary processing was performed based on the data after our own correction and recalculation. It was then possible to build up a basic model of multi-stage cascade wood use. The input volume of roundwood was divided among all types of primary processing production using conversion factors. Results: Cascading use of wood (CUW) showed the level of efficiency of the resource. Official statistical input data and the reversed input data regarding raw wood volume entering wood processing revealed differences at a level of 27%. The overall CUW in the Czech Republic indicates a high rate of wood use in primary processing with low added value and in generating energy. Conclusions: The reverse input method reveals the real situation of wood consumption irrespective of the level of official statistical data. It is suitable to apply in an environment of incomplete or incorrect input data. CUW in Czechia showed an opportunity for increasing the efficiency of wood utilization. The structure of wood use needs to be optimized towards creating greater added value.

Highlights

  • Wood as a renewable natural resource can be a sustainable resource and can contribute to the development of the circular economy and bio-economy

  • The contribution of the study presented in the paper can be seen in its application of the cascading wood use model in situations of incomplete input data using the reverse input method

  • It enables the recording of the real situation of wood consumption irrespective of the level of statistics in the

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Summary

Introduction

Wood as a renewable natural resource can be a sustainable resource and can contribute to the development of the circular economy and bio-economy. The circular economy represents the principle of material flow management including many kinds of resources and their use in multiple contexts. Raw materials such as wood biomass should be used several times in a cascading sequence of material use as efficiently as possible [3]. Material flow analysis is a well-established method that provides a useful tool to be used as the basis of a transition process towards improved wood flows and can contribute to sustainable forest management [3,4]. Material flow analysis supports the understanding of sustainable production and consumption by providing insight into material flows

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