By 2050, global demand for wood as a building material is expected to quadruple, driven by the rising popularity of mass-timber (MT) structures. MT structures have gained significant attention in the AEC industry for their perceived absolute “carbon neutrality” and sustainability compared to conventional construction materials such as concrete and steel. However, there are unaccounted biogenic carbon emissions associated with wood harvesting that are often overlooked, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive assessment of their environmental impact. The issue particularly with harvest residual or slash left behind was highlighted in World Resources Institute’s report titledThe Global Land Squeeze: Managing the Growing Competition for Landas a significant contributor to re-releasing sequestered biogenic carbon back into the atmosphere.

Building material selection in our built environment significantly impacts GHG emissions throughout its life cycle. However, wood harvesting will add 3.5 to 4.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere annually over the coming decades. Corgan conducted research to understand hidden emissions from MT harvesting and fabrication and the impact on a project's carbon footprint - read those findings here:Understanding Real CO2e Emissions in Mass Timber Production.