LCA of Wood Materials Used in Building Industry

Abstract

Because the building industry consumes a large amount of wood materials, it is responsible for an accordingly large amount of resource consumption and waste generation, and consequently, it is responsible for the heavy environmental loads. In order to respond to urgent requirements for reduction of such heavy impacts, it is considered indispensable to take appropriate countermeasures based on data gained through the systematic analysis and evaluation of such impacts using LCA. Thus, in this article, the use of woody materials in Japanese building system and the effect of applying LCA are described. First, the actual uses of woody materials in the building and the environmental loads caused by them are described, followed by discussion as to the responsibility the same industry should bear. Then, subsequently to an overview of recent situation in the use of LCA in the building system, discussion is made on the prospective utilization of LCA as a more sustainable method for evaluating woody resources and products with focus on those used in this specific industry. Lastly, future issues are considered in line with the research objectives.