Next steps in developing thermally modified timber to meet requirements of European low carbon economy

Abstract

This paper presents the European initiatives, strategies, and directives that must be considered in future development of thermally modified timber and when optimising the existing, commercialised processes and discusses the next steps in developing thermally modified timber needed to meet the requirements of the European low carbon economy. The standards for assessment of environmental impacts of processes and products with the focus on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for materials used in the built environment are presented and followed by discussion about the need to consider the environmental impacts on sustainably aspects of thermally modified timber. This includes: determination of environmental impacts of processing and resulting products; design of processes and products towards minimal environmental impacts; and acquisition of EPDs and of Product Category Rules (PCR) for products of thermally modified timber.