Reusing timber for a circular, low-carbon future: Challenges and the path forward
Abstract
Load-bearing timber is usually not reused in a second structural application after its first service life, not due to proven inadequacy, but largely because prevailing standards recognize only first-use material. When buildings are dismantled, the recovered timber is typically routed toward energy recovery, re- or down-cycling, or disposal, while functionally equivalent components for new construction are manufactured from newly harvested logs. The current regulatory framework favors virgin timber, even where reused elements could technically perform the same structural functions. Therefore, one of the primary barriers to structural timber reuse is the absence of codified pathways for qualification, certification, and market acceptance.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Wood Treatment and Properties
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Sustainable Building Design and Assessment
Publication details
- Journal / source
- BioResources
- Publisher
- BioResources
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 2771–2773
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN