In order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050 in the fields of forest and forest products, it is necessary to promote appropriate management and renewal of planted forests, and development of wooden building materials and the wooden construction of mid-to-high-rise buildings with lower GHG emissions. Unless we also try to reduce the environmental loads other than GHG for such development, we cannot simply replace it with other materials and construction methods. Therefore, we assessed GHG emissions up to the production of domestic logs which are the raw materials for all wood-based materials. The environmental loads of an office building made of the fireproof glulam impregnated with fire-retardant and an apartment using gypsum board-covered CLT were also assessed with those of steel-framed and reinforced concrete buildings. As a result, in log production, it is necessary to reforest after clear-cutting, and in order to give mid-to-high-rise wooden buildings the fire resistance required in Japan, gypsum board should not be used or alternatives with low environmental impact should be used.

Download document (448 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document