Abstract:
Wood products can help mitigate climate change, depending on the final uses. Unfortunately, final uses are difficult to track. This study presents a material flow analysis of wood use across the European Union in 2021, tracking flows from forest harvest to end-of-life. We estimate that a total of 594 million cubic meters in solid wood equivalents were directed to end-uses, with 53 % allocated to material uses and 47 % to energy. Of the biomass used for energy, 43 % originates from primary sources (fuelwood), while the remainder is derived from secondary and post-use wood streams. The construction sector accounts for 15 % of total wood end-uses, the second material use after paper and board (24 %). Our findings show that circularity and cascading practices already exist in the EU wood sector. They could be further strengthened through improved waste management and greater use of recovered post-consumer wood and residues in higher-value and long-lived applications. Our results provide an improved evidence base for policies aiming to enhance circularity and climate benefits in the European forest-based sector.
Citation:
Orfanidou, T., Martinez, G. E., Järvikylä, J., Verkerk, P. J., & Cardellini, G. (2026). Mapping wood flows to final product and energy uses in 2021 in the European Union. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 30, 200331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2026.200331