Room: King Willem Alexander
Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Time: 10:15 - 11:15 CEST
Session code BP.1
Sustainable bio-based value chains
Dynamic Assessment of Cascading Wood Use for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
Short Introductive summary
Wood plays a central role in the bioeconomy by sequestering CO2 in biomass, storing carbon in materials, and substituting fossil resources. However, a systemic understanding of wood use across the value chain is essential to support bio-based development and accelerate progress toward net-zero goals. A crucial strate-gy in this transition is the cascading use of wood, where wood products are utilized for as long as possible, then repurposed or recycled multiple times before final energy recovery. Building on our previous material flow analysis (MFA) of the Swiss wood value chain, we developed a method for scenario development that matches wood flows with applications based on quality and functional re-quirements. We constructed three material-first scenarios, for cellulose, biochar, and fiber- and particle boards, to quantify biomass demand, identify trade-offs, and explore how these materials can extend wood’s lifespan in the technosphere. The scenarios are integrated into a dynamic modeling framework that combines material flow analysis (MFA), life cycle assessment (LCA), forest management, and energy system modeling. This approach enables the evaluation of future wood availabili
Presenter
Nadia MALINVERNO
Empa, Technology and Society Laboratory, SWITZERLAND
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
K. Vogel, Empa, St.Gallen, SWITZERLAND
A. Jakobs, PSI, Villigen, SWITZERLAND
E. Thürig, WSL, Birmensdorf, SWITZERLAND
G. Nyström, Empa, Dübendorf, SWITZERLAND
C. Som, Empa, St.Gallen, SWITZERLAND
Session reference: BP.1.2