Response to Carbon Accounting for Building Materials (CA4BM) Report

This response addresses the Carbon Accounting 4 Building Materials (CA4BM) report published by the European cement, ceramics, and concrete industries, which evaluates the potential climate impact of biobased building materials. The response, authored by Dutch scientists, acknowledges the importance of biobased materials but challenges numerous assumptions in the original report. The response critiques the CA4BM report for downplaying the long-term benefits of biobased materials like timber and presents counterarguments that emphasize the importance of sustainable forestry and the long-term carbon storage potential of biobased materials.

Key Takeaways

• Support for Biobased Materials: The response agrees that forestry and biobased materials are crucial for carbon sequestration and climate mitigation but stresses the importance of sustainable forest management.
• Critique of Temporary Carbon Storage: The CA4BM report suggests that biobased materials, such as timber, will release stored carbon when incinerated in the future. The response disputes this, emphasizing that in a circular economy, materials will be reused rather than incinerated, thus providing long-term carbon storage.
• Sustainable Forestry Practices: The response highlights that Europe has a well-managed forestry sector, with over 60% of forests certified under sustainability programs such as FSC and PEFC. The response argues that the CA4BM report underestimates the positive impact of sustainable forestry.

How It Can Help You

This response is relevant for environmental researchers, policymakers, and professionals in the construction and forestry sectors who are:

• Interested in understanding the role of biobased materials in climate change mitigation.
• Looking for counterarguments to the CA4BM report, especially regarding carbon storage and sustainable forestry.
• Exploring the potential of timber as a sustainable building material in reducing CO2 emissions.

Key Learnings

1. Long-Term Carbon Storage: Biobased materials, particularly timber, offer long-term carbon storage benefits when sustainably managed and reused, countering claims of their temporary nature.
2. Sustainable Forest Management: European forestry practices are sustainable and highly regulated, providing a reliable source of biobased materials for the construction industry.
3. Misinterpretation of Biobased Materials’ Impact: The CA4BM report underestimates the potential for biobased materials to contribute to climate change mitigation, especially when considering circular economy principles.

Date: June 2022