The Treated Wood Council has completed a quantitative evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with the national production, use, and disposition of pentachlorophenol-treated wood, concrete, galvanized steel, and fiber-reinforced composite utility poles using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies and following ISO 14044 standards. The results for treated wood poles are significant. • Less Energy & Resource Use: Treated wood utility poles require less total energy, less fossil fuel, and less water than concrete, galvanized steel, and fiber-reinforced composite utility poles. • Lower Environmental Impacts: Treated wood utility poles have lower environmental impacts than concrete, steel, and fiber-reinforced composite utility poles in five of the six impact indicator categories assessed: anthropogenic greenhouse gas, total greenhouse gas, acid rain, ecotoxicity, and eutrophication-causing emissions. • Decreases Greenhouse Gas Levels: Use of treated wood utility poles lowers greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere whereas concrete, galvanized steel, and fiber-reinforced composite utility poles increase greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. • Offsets Fossil Fuel Use: Improved reuse of pentachlorophenol-treated utility poles for energy recovery will further reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, while offsetting the use of fossil fuel energy. Impact indicator values for the cradle-to-grave life cycle of pentachlorophenol-treated utility poles were normalized to one (1.0), with concrete, galvanized steel, and fiber-reinforced composite utility pole impact indicator values being a multiple of one (if larger) or a fraction of one (if smaller). The carbon embodied in wood products, such as utility poles, is removed from the atmosphere during growth, stored for decades while the product is in use, and can be used for beneficial energy recovery at disposition. This temporary storage of carbon in the wood product reduces atmospheric levels of CO2 because the service life of the pole exceeds the time required for tree growth.

Download document (606 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document