The Treated Wood Council has completed a quantitative evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with the national production, use, and disposition of borate (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate)-treated lumber structural framing and galvanized steel framing using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies and following ISO 14044 standards. The results for treated wood framing are significant. • Less Energy & Resource Use: Treated wood framing requires less total energy, less fossil fuel, and less water than galvanized steel framing. • Lower Environmental Impacts: Treated wood framing has lower environmental impacts in comparison to galvanized steel framing in all five of the impact indicator categories assessed: anthropogenic greenhouse gas, acid rain, smog potential, ecotoxicity, and eutrophication-causing emissions. • Less Fossil Fuel Use: The fossil fuel footprint of 100 linear feet of treated lumber structural wall framing is equivalent to driving a car 540 miles. In comparison, the fossil fuel footprint of 100 linear feet of galvanized steel structural wall framing is equivalent to driving a car 2,000 miles. • Recoverable Energy: The carbon embodied in wood makes out-of-service wood products excellent candidates for energy recovery. Treated wood can be used in appropriately permitted cogeneration facilities or synthetic fuel manufacturing facilities as a renewable fuel source. Impact indicator values for the cradle-to-grave life cycle of borate-treated lumber were normalized to one (1.0), with galvanized steel framing impact indicator values being a multiple of one (if larger) or a fraction of one (if smaller).

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