Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.rcrx.2020.100034
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Estimating the potentials for reducing the impacts on climate change by increasing the cascade use and extending the lifetime of wood products in Germany
Author Budzinski, M.; Bezama, A.; Thrän, D.
Source Titel Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X
Year 2020
Department BIOENERGIE
Volume 6
Page From art. 100034
Language englisch
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S2590289X20300050-mmc1.pdf
Keywords Cascade use; Lifetime; Wood products; Structural; Decomposition; Analysis; Input-output analysis; Greenhouse gas emissions
Abstract Cascade use has been identified as a key concept towards the sustainable use of bio-based products aiming at the hierarchical utilization of biomass, first as materials; secondly recycled into new materials; and finally used energetically. This principle is plausible in theory. However, the quantification of economy-wide GHG savings due to the increased cascade use is scarce. Furthermore, another option to reduce GHG emissions - the extension of product lifetime - is not taken into consideration by this concept. This article aims at analyzing the potential of increasing the cascade use of wood products in Germany and contrasting the results with the extension of product lifetime. In doing so, we combine a disaggregated input-output model with a cumulative lifetime model. Results show that increased cascade use of wood products may reduce the current total GHG emissions in Germany at about 0.19 % (1.68±0.34 Mt CO2eq.). Lifetime extension seems not to have such a high reduction potential at about 0.04 % (0.35±0.06 Mt CO2eq.). Despite limited GHG reduction potentials of increased cascade use and lifetime extension, nevertheless, these concepts should be addressed by policy makers.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=22838
Budzinski, M., Bezama, A., Thrän, D. (2020):
Estimating the potentials for reducing the impacts on climate change by increasing the cascade use and extending the lifetime of wood products in Germany
Resour. Conserv. Recycl. X 6 , art. 100034 10.1016/j.rcrx.2020.100034