'Scoring with wood in the GWW'

As part of the 'Circular Economy Impulse Program', an exploration has taken place over the past six months to gain more insight into the potential of wood and bio-based products in the GWW, a traditionally non-wood oriented sector. The exploration explored opportunities and barriers and described the socio-ecological impact of wood applications and added value compared to currently used materials. Eric de Munck, environmental and sustainable innovation consultant at Centrum Hout, explains how infrastructure companies can "score" with wood in the GWW.

Over the past few decades, Centrum Hout has regularly reviewed the use of wood in GWW with the Department of Public Works. In view of climate objectives and government policy, it has gained momentum, according to De Munck. "We will have to deal with raw materials in a different way and that offers opportunities for the application of renewable raw materials such as bio-based products and wood. To see what the possibilities are, as mentioned, a reconnaissance took place from June 2018 to February 2019. Innovations along the freeway, such as a guide rail and road gantries made of wood, were tested for environmental score (MKI), CO₂-reduction, circularity and resource depletion. The results are stunning."

Sustainably produced wood
The Department of Public Works has traditionally been concrete and steel oriented, says De Munck. "But that is changing. This is confirmed by the fact that Tjeerd Rozendaal, HID at Rijkswaterstaat, underlined in a video message addressed to the visitors of Infratech2019 last February 14 that his organization is going to specifically bet on wood because of the environmental and climate benefits." De Munck adds: "Given its renewable nature and product properties, wood makes an important contribution to climate objectives and the circular economy. This is in line with the ambition of the government-wide program Circular Economy. The production ('growth') of wood leads to the absorption of CO₂, which is converted into wood by the tree. When wood then also replaces other materials, a lot of CO₂ saved." According to De Munck, it is a misconception that the increasing use of wood plays into the hands of deforestation. "If a conscious choice is made for wood from sustainably managed forests, it means that these forests are actually being preserved. This is because wood gives value to the forest and thus prevents conversion to agriculture. Deforestation is thus a symptom. So we ourselves can do something against deforestation, especially by consciously purchasing and choosing sustainably produced wood."

FSC certified sheet piles ready for shipment.

Making ambitions visible
Research into the environmental impact of guide rails, bicycle bridges and sheet pile walls show great differences between the materials used, with wood scoring most positively. De Munck: "Sustainable, renewable, bio-based, circular, on all these points wood can meet a client's objectives. By applying wood as an alternative to more conventional materials in the infrastructure sector, you can even score extra 'points' compared to conventional materials. In addition, innovative applications in wood, such as guide rails, hectometer poles, road portals, traffic signs and noise barriers, also offer opportunities to make sustainable ambitions visible. In the renovation of the N211, the province of South Holland has applied 21 innovations, including a wooden guide rail and road portals. Proof, then, that it can be done." 

Protecting Tropical Forest by Buying Sustainable Timber - FSC Forest Cameroon.

Positive developments in the market that may cause wood to be preferred over other materials in the GWW are the advent of Lifecycle Analyses (LCA), Lifecycle Costs (LCC) and Total Cost of Ownership models (TCOs), which take into account the costs and environmental aspects of the entire life cycle, De Munck says. "Wood is also an interesting option to work with in 'wet' hydraulic engineering. And in addition to Rijkswaterstaat, the Rijksgebouwendienst and ProRail have now expressed interest in using more wood." If you are a client or contractor interested in applying wood in your project, please get in touch. Then the wood chain will be happy to help you further.