Evaluation of wood cascading

This chapter introduces the concept of utilization of wood in cascades, that is, for multiple successive material applications followed by a final incineration for energy production. Cascading is widely mentioned as a measure to tackle possible resource shortages due to increasing resource utilization. To evaluate this concept, a case study comparing the cascading use of one metric ton of recovered wood to direct incineration of this resource by applying environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) is presented. To enable a comparison of the two options, a system expansion approach based on both primary wood products and fossil products is carried out. Additionally highlighted aspects of LCA in this chapter are carbon storage in wood products and the consideration of time in LCA. In the majority of the considered impact categories and variants, cascading proved to be the more environmental-friendly alternative. Yet, especially the efficiency of the recovery of wood between the different steps of the cascade influences the performance of the cascading system, thereby demonstrating the importance of improving process efficiency as well when handling renewable resources such as wood.