Buildings account for 40 per cent of all energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the European Union. It emphasises the importance of sustainable construction and environmental planning in our personal and environmental well-being. The eco-efficiency of buildings means that more is produced using less and with lower environmental impacts. Energy efficiency is a key element in ecologically sustainable construction. It is also affected by the location of a building, material choices and consumer attitudes and habits.
A climate impact assessment tool, i.e. carbon footprint, was developed to permit evaluation of the carbon dioxide emissions caused by products, services and even individuals. The carbon footprint of a building is affected by the manufacture of building materials and products, emissions from manufacturing energy consumption and the selected form of energy, construction, use of the building, and procedures at the end of the life cycle, such as recycling and final disposal. Generally, emissions caused by transportation are also included.
As part of its climate programme, Metsäliitto has developed a product-specific calculation model for its carbon footprint, which covers harvesting, transportation to the production unit, product manufacture and transportation to the end user. As a result, customers are able to find out the level of their carbon dioxide emissions specifically for each product. The calculations also consider the biogenic, i.e. wood-based carbon, absorbed in the products.
Wood structures store carbon.
As they grow, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transfer it in the form of carbon to their trunks. During construction, this carbon is stored in the wood structures of buildings. Wood construction can thus be used to mitigate climate change. The older the product and its carbon storage, the greater the positive effect on the climate.
Metsäliitto introduced product-specific carbon footprint calculations in 2007. Finnforest complies with the Group's calculation method for the carbon footprint. We are among the first building product manufacturers to offer product-specific carbon footprints at the customer's request.
Example of carbon footprint for Kerto products
The values given in this example are the average values of products manufactured at the Finnforest’s Kerto mills in Punkaharju and Lohja. The default is that the customer operates in Germany.
Carbon footprint, kg CO2/m3
| Wood transportation |
20 |
| Purchased electricity |
0 |
| Mill |
89 |
| Product transportation to Aichach, South Germany |
25 |
| Total emissions |
134 |
| Wood based carbon ( as CO2) in the product |
825 |