Supply of wood processing residues – a basic calculation approach and its application on the example of wood packaging

Abstract

Waste reduction, recycling and increased material efficiency are key objectives in complex industrial ecology. The wood processing industry also aims at a more intensive resource recovery and usable residual volumes. Important volumes of wood processing residue potentials can be found at the EU level. However, to date no reliable calculation approach has been established. To fill the information gap, this study presents an approach for calculating the supply of wood processing residues. The methodological approach follows the concept of a material flow analysis. We quantify the material flows based on product-specific conversion factors and the coefficients of material efficiency. This paper intends to develop a calculation approach based on existing statistical data from official classifications such as Prodcom. We perform the calculation approach on standardised wood packaging products at the European level. The calculated supply of wood processing residues the European Union in 2018 was 29.7 million m³f with a total material input of about 70.8 million m³f and a production volume of 40.8 million m³f. A maximum volume of 29.6 million m³f sawnwood is used for the production of wooden containers. Quantification results can be further differentiated – e.g., the share of sawmill by-products. Hence, the calculation approach supports the visualisation and understanding of material flows within the forest-based sector. Wood processing residue coefficients resulting from product specific MFA can be repeatedly applied to annual production data of wood products, wood composites and wood supply chains. Thus, the quantification of wood processing residues improves the results of existing and future wood resource balances including cascade uses by increasing their level of detail.