A carbon and lifetime-based material flow model for wood residues

Wood-based manufacturing industries generate substantial quantities of residues such as sawdust, bark, chips, and wood offcuts, which are often underutilized or directed to low-value applications. Improving the allocation of these residues is therefore critical for enhancing material efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of forest-based production systems. This paper presents a multi-objective linear programming-based decision framework aimed at optimally allocating wood-based waste among forest-based industries to reduce carbon emissions and extend the lifespan of wood products. The study considered transportation emissions, product-specific carbon footprint values, and material-product conversion relationships together. The proposed model incorporates fourteen distinct facilities representing different segments of the forest-based industrial system. Results show that carbon-focused allocation patterns direct residues toward long-lived wood-based panel products, thereby enhancing embedded carbon retention while reducing overall emissions. The findings indicate that a regionally coordinated waste sharing strategy can achieve emissions savings while increasing resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis. This model serves as a decision support tool for stakeholders aiming to implement low-carbon circular practices in the forest products industry and provides a sustainable perspective for the sector.