Category Archives: Wood, Paper & Green Building

Wood, Paper & Green Building

Canada Wood Group’s Market News and Insights Feb 2025

Canada Wood Group
February 3, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, International

Don’t miss these headlines and more in the February Market News and Insights:

  • Canada Wood Japan Achieves Shear Wall Multiplier 20 Breakthrough, Advancing Midrise Wood Construction 
    Canada Wood Japan, with support from the Government of Alberta, has developed a shear wall exceeding a multiplier of 20, tailored for Japan’s growing mid-rise wood construction sector. This advancement enhances earthquake resistance, aligning with the country’s strict seismic codes. 
  • Successful 90-Minute Fireproofing Tests Pave Way for Cost-Effective 2×4 Midrise Construction in Japan 
  • Expanding connections at the Smart Furniture Show 2024 – From high-end furniture to saunas, B.C. wood is finding a growing market in Vietnam.
  • Platform Frame Construction: Expanding Non-Residential Knowledge – Canada Wood Japan partnered with Japan Federation of Construction Contractors to showcase Canadian wood construction. 
  • Governing sustainably – western hemlock adds a touch of sophistication to Indian civic hall 

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Wildfire Risks May Demand Stricter Building Codes

By Ian Madsen, Senior Policy Analyst
Frontier Centre for Public Policy
January 25, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

The recent devastating and immense wildfires in Southern California that destroyed tens of thousands of structures inspire much sympathy. Soon, thoughts will turn to rebuilding the burned-out homes, businesses and public buildings. This brings up a pertinent question: will the new buildings be as vulnerable to wildfires as the old ones? As in the similarly extensive blazes in Jasper… and West Kelowna, the conventional building materials have included lumber, plywood, oriented strand board, window frames and various plastics, all of which are flammable. …It does not have to be this way –builders have alternatives. Fire-resistant structural wooden beams and posts are available. Builders of so-called ‘mass timber’ high-rise buildings are employing them, including in Canada, but they are not in widespread use. …Thus far, Canadians have shown little appetite, whether at federal, provincial or municipal levels, to mandate costlier higher fire-resistance standards in home building and other construction. 

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Forest Enhancement Society funding earmarks BioNorth Energy

Vanderhoof Omineca Express
February 14, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

BioNorth Energy biomass power generation plant will be accessing more fibre thanks to funding from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC). Uneconomic residual fibre is being delivered from locations farther from town to BioNorth, a joint venture partnership in Fort St. James between Arrow Group of Companies (Arrow), the Nak’azdli Development Corporation (NDC), the economic development arm of the Nak’azdli First Nation, and low-carbon infrastructure developer, Nexus PMG. The project, which began in the fall of 2023 after an intense wildfire season, will finalize this winter, helping reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere while also generating economic and social benefits for the community… Chris McGourlick, RPF, operations manager with FESBC, said the estimated fibre utilization from this project is equivalent to 4,635 truckloads.

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British Columbia Institute of Technology begins $48 million Renewal of Burnaby Campus

By Ben Hill
BCIT News
February 14, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is beginning a major revitalization project on the south side of its Burnaby Campus. …With a $48 million investment from the Province, this phase of the project encompasses the first three of five separate zones of the project with construction set to begin in early 2026 and to run until 2029. …Above ground, the campus will see more open spaces, a restored urban greenway, a campus walkway connecting the new Tall Timber Student Housing building to the core of campus, and upgraded wayfinding, bicycle networks, and accessibility throughout public areas. Additionally, the project will support the continued daylighting of Guichon Creek – creating a natural ecological habitat suitable for salmon. …Students, particularly those in Civil Engineering, Ecological Restoration, and Construction Management, will gain hands-on experience through collaboration with industry professionals.

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Power of plastic: Alberta company builds affordable, energy-efficient home in record time

By Michael Franklin
CTV News Calgary
February 13, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Faced with a housing crisis on Canada’s First Nations, an Alberta company has stepped up with an innovative, affordable solution that taps into some cutting-edge green initiatives at the same time. Ecoplast Solutions, based in Lloydminster, Alta., has been working with the Siksika First Nation to build homes in the community. …a three-bedroom bungalow being is set up in only two days. Ecoplast says the home, made of recycled plastic, uses 60 per cent less energy than conventional homes, provides a 24 per cent reduction on greenhouse gases and a 50 per cent savings on the homeowners’ energy bills. The company is doing it by prefabricating each part of the home ahead of time, then trucks all the parts to the location and assembles them on-site. Officials say the resulting buildings are more durable and avoid some of the common concerns that plague traditional homes like wood rot and mold.

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B.C. projects honoured with 2024 Structural Engineering Excellence Awards

The REMI Network – Real Estate Management Industry Network
January 27, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Two B.C. projects were named winners at the 2024 Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards. Presented by the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, the annual awards honour projects that showcase ingenuity, technical skill, and groundbreaking design in the field.

  • The Presentation Centre at Fraser Mills exemplifies innovative mass timber systems through its inventive structural engineering and community-focused design. Notably, the Centre is among the first in British Columbia to use cantilevered glulam columns for lateral support. 
  • The new Tall Timber Student Housing tower at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby, British Columbia represents a shift forward in tall, hybrid, encapsulated mass timber construction. Utilizing the latest advances in engineered wood products, pre-fabrication, and encapsulation strategies, this project represents significant progress in the field of hybrid-mass timber buildings.

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WoodWorks at BUILDEX in Vancouver — it’s going to be great!

WoodWorks
LinkedIn
January 22, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

We’re bringing 12 hours of accredited educational seminars to WoodWorks at BUILDEX Vancouver 2025! Dive into Stream 1: From Ground Up – Understanding the Shift to Timber in Modern Construction, where industry leaders share insights into how timber is transforming the built environment. These sessions are ideal for newcomers as well as seasoned professionals and can be attended with either an All-Access Pass or individual Single Session tickets.

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Forest Products Added to Nova Scotia Loyal

By Natural Resources
The Government of Nova Scotia
February 5, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada East

Nova Scotia forest products will soon be marketed through Nova Scotia Loyal. Producers can enrol in the program, and they will be approved automatically. “We want to make buying local easy and clear when it comes to our forest products,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources. “That’s why we’re adding Nova Scotia Loyal branding, so consumers can choose local lumber and other forest products.” Forest products that are grown, harvested, crafted or manufactured in Nova Scotia and sold to consumers are eligible. They will be labelled with Nova Scotia Loyal stickers or tags in retail stores to help consumers identify and choose them. Minister Rushton made the announcement at the Forest Nova Scotia annual general meeting on Monday, February 3. …Nova Scotia Loyal staff will work with enrolled producers to determine how to best identify, label and market their forest products.

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Huge tower made of wood is unlike anything else under construction in Toronto

Canadian Reviews
January 22, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada East

Toronto’s skyline is getting some company in the form of a new generation of tall towers constructed out of wood, and the first of the bunch is already making headway. The University of Toronto’s new Academic Wood Tower is quickly sprouting… The 14-storey institutional building designed by Patkau Architects and MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects was first proposed in 2018, but it already had a bit of a head start before work even began. …A crane was erected in November 2023, and work on assembling the mass-timber structural frame has gradually progressed in the 14 months since. Timber beams now stretch to the seventh floor of the tower, meaning the building is now approximately halfway towards its final height. …Once complete, the building will stand as Canada’s tallest academic wood building, as well as the tallest timber-framed structure in the country overall. 

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Cement industry undergoing ‘unprecedented transformation,’ says World Cement Association CEO

By Grant Cameron
The Daily Commercial News
February 14, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, International

The cement industry is at a crossroads as decarbonization is expected to take its toll, resulting in a significant decline in demand, according to a paper by the World Cement Association (WCA). “The cement industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation,” explains WCA CEO Ian Riley. “As we move towards a decarbonized future, understanding the true demand for cement is critical to ensuring that policies, technologies and investments align with reality.” The white paper examines disruptive factors such as alternative materials. …The report challenges prevailing forecasts and projects demand for cement and clinker will dip, mainly due to the rise of timber, greater use of admixtures, the move towards decarbonization of the industry as well as design practices that will reduce the concrete used. ..According to the paper, timber has replaced concrete and steel in many highrise buildings but limitations on the supply of timber are expected to curb its growth.

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Read My Lips: Tariffs Are Taxes – Trump’s recent moves will put upward pressure on housing prices

By Kevin Williamson, Virginia
The Dispatch
February 14, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

I get a press release about three times a week from the lumber lobby’s PR shop, the upshot of each missive being that U.S. lumber producers are desperate to raise their prices but cannot because of competition from relatively cheap Canadian imports. It is cheaper to produce lumber in Canada than in the US, not because the Canadian firms are “subsidized,” as their U.S. competitors claim, but because of more fundamental differences in the way the two countries’ lumber markets are organized. …Lumber is expensive and awkward to ship, but it has a long shelf life, and there are lots of people all around the world who would like to buy that Canadian lumber. Tariffs on it are probably not going to transfer many economic burdens from US producers to Canadian producers—they are more likely to transfer an economic burden from US lumber producers to low-income young people who want to buy a house.

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Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ends the Procurement and Forced Use of Paper Straws

The US Whitehouse
February 10, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

Ending the forced use of paper straws: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to end the procurement and forced use of paper straws. The Federal government is directed to stop purchasing paper straws and ensure they are no longer provided within Federal buildings. The Order requires the development of a National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws within 45 days to alleviate the forced use of paper straws nationwide. Bringing back common sense: The irrational campaign against plastic straws has forced Americans to use nonfunctional paper straws. This ends under President Trump. …President Trump has made it a top priority to promote a clean and healthy environment for the American people.

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Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau publishes new edition of lumber grading rules

Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau
January 23, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

Federal Way, WA — Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau (PLIB) has published a new 2024 edition of its grading rules book, WCLB Standard Grading Rules for West Coast & Imported Softwood Lumber, No. 18, 2024. The new rule book replaces the 2022 version and includes many updates and improvements from the previous edition. PLIB is recognized by the American Lumber Standards Committee as a lumber grading rules-writing authority. No. 18, 2024 edition is the second major revision to the rule book since the PLIB/WCLIB merger. “The new rule book includes all updates to the NGR grade rules as well as revisions to other grades specific to the WCLB rules,” said Jeff Fantozzi, PLIB’s president. “There are also several improvements to make the book easier to navigate and the coil bound covers more tear resistant. We put a lot of thought into making functional improvements. 

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Companies lean into paper packaging innovations amid scrutiny of plastic

By April Reese
Packaging Dive
January 27, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

Regulatory requirements and consumer demand are pushing more companies to switch from plastic to paper for everything from packing peanuts to beverage bottles. But some groups question whether paper is truly a better alternative and how much it helps companies meet their sustainability commitments. Mounting evidence of plastic’s potentially adverse effects on the environment and public health are gaining attention. For example, about 98% of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuel feedstock, and greenhouse gas emissions from the production, use and disposal of these plastics are expected to rise to 19% of the global carbon budget by 2040, according to the United Nations Environment Program. In response to these growing concerns, regulators at every level of government have adopted new policies.

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Addressing the Wood Education Gap in Engineering Schools

The Softwood Lumber Board
January 27, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

In the January Softwood Lumber monthly update you’ll find: 

  • New funding by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law supports processing and utilization of wood products from National Forest System lands. The Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program is intended to improve forest health and reduce the risks in the forest.
  • Throughout the year, we’ll be highlighting industry, SLB program, and partner leaders showing how and why the softwood lumber industry is working together to ensure we continue to grow market share in the years to come. This month, the SLB’s First Vice Chair Jerome Pelletier, Vice President of J.D. Irving, Ltd.
  • Wood education is critically underrepresented in postsecondary engineering programs across the United States, leaving many future engineers underprepared to leverage wood as a versatile, sustainable building material. To address this challenge, the SLB sponsored the Young Engineer and Student Lunch at the 2024 NCSEA Structural Engineering Summit

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Outlook for ‘old corrugated container’ demand, recycling hinges on economics

By Antoinette Smith
Resource Recycling
January 23, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

Volumes of OCC (old corrugated containers) and mixed paper are shifting with societal and economic trends, industry experts said during a paper industry update webinar presented by the Recycled Materials Association. Box shipments in 2025 are likely to get off to their usual slow start, said Ryan Fox, at Bloomberg. …For full-year 2025, Bloomberg estimates box shipments at 385 billion square feet and more than 31 million tons, an increase of 0.5%-1% over 2024 levels. …Fox added, paper company executives have largely said they don’t see “any observable things happening in 2025 that are going to cause a major inflection in demand.” …TetraPak makes the case for poly-coated paper. …Graphic Packaging provides update on Waco mill

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Los Angeles Fire Victims Turn to Prefab Homes for Quick Builds

By Sophie Alexander
MSN
January 20, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

Even as fires continue to burn across Los Angeles, many of those who lost their houses are already making plans to rebuild. To overcome labor shortages and speed up the process, some are turning to prefabricated homes… Michael Wara, senior research scholar at Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment, said much of Paradise, California, was rebuilt with prefabricated homes after the devastating 2018 Camp Fire. He expects the same in Los Angeles. “There are not enough general contractors in Los Angeles to rebuild 12,000 structures in addition to all the other work,” he said. “Solutions where you can build most of the homes somewhere else not subject to the labor constraint that will affect Los Angeles could be particularly attractive.”

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Successful U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center test advances readiness of mass timber shelter

By Sophia Espinosa
Engineer Research and Development Center
January 17, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) took a significant step in transforming contingency construction. In November 2024, researchers conducted a seismic test on an eco-conscious mass timber shelter that highlights the future of relocatable Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structures. This test assessed the performance and safety of the first prototype of a CLT shelter made from thermally modified coastal western hemlock. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Composite Recycling Technology Center and Washington State University. Together, they are working to revolutionize the construction of sustainable and resilient structures for emergency and temporary housing. …industry statistics show that as of September 2024, 2,253 multi-family, commercial, or institutional mass timber projects were either in progress or completed in the U.S., according to WoodWorks, a partner on an ERDC Commercial Solutions contract. …As the nation faces increasing challenges from natural disasters, resilient infrastructure is more crucial than ever. 

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From forest to home: The truth about sustainable furniture

By Sarah Walker, Nuance Interior Design Showroom
The Seattle Times
February 14, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

The demand for sustainable, nontoxic furniture is rising as consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact and indoor air quality. While many brands claim to be “eco-friendly,” not all live up to the promise. From responsibly harvested wood to green packaging, truly sustainable furniture goes beyond marketing buzzwords. Understanding the end-to-end process of furniture manufacturing can help consumers make informed choices and avoid greenwashing. Interior designers play a crucial role in guiding homeowners toward authentic selections that prioritize longevity, health and environmental responsibility.

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University building mass-timber complex heated and cooled with geothermal power

By Larry Adams
Woodworking Network
February 12, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

On the Central Washington University campus in Ellensburg, Washington, a new mass timber complex is under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2026. The massive, 106,000 square foot North Academic Complex (NAC) construction project includes a four-story LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold building — funded by the Washington State Legislature in 2023 — that will be home to a large number of classes for first- and second-year students, and will soon be regarded as “CWU’s preeminent academic facility.” Capital Planning and Projects Director Delano Palmer said the project is progressing. “It’s looking really good, and we’re right on schedule.” …The glulam support beams — created from wood provided by the Quinalt Tribe and facilitated by the Yakama Nation — will be fully exposed in the interior of the NAC, giving the facility a natural aura that pairs nicely with the abundant natural light.

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Oregon Tech Integrates Student Experience into New Mass Timber Residence Hall

Oregon Institute of Technology
February 6, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) is focusing on the student experience and incorporating hands-on learning into the construction of its new $35 million mass timber residence hall at the Klamath Falls campus. The 86,170-square-foot, four-story building will house 517 students, addressing the university’s growing need for additional on-campus housing. Construction is expected to be completed in December 2025. …“Utilizing mass timber aligns with Oregon Tech’s history of sustainable design and environmental stewardship,” said Kurt Haapala, a Partner at Mahlum Architects, the firm that designed the structure. “Mass timber provides aesthetic and functional benefits, such as exposed wood ceilings and efficient manufacturing techniques that reduce waste and improve construction timelines.” Associate Principal Joseph Mayo at Mahlum Architects describes the building as a biophilic design, which aims to connect people with nature by incorporating natural elements into buildings.

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Newsom, Los Angeles should pause on rebuilding

By Mark Ryavec
Argonaut News
January 30, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

Gavin Newsom

Gov. Gavin Newsom is misguided in issuing an executive order to expedite rebuilding houses in the Pacific Palisades without first examining what happened there and applying lessons that may be learned to reform building codes and significantly increase the capacity of the local firefighting water system. The governor recently issued orders to relax Coastal Commission permit requirements and environmental review for new construction as long as the replacement building is not more than 10% larger or taller than the original. Now that Mayor Karen Bass has agreed, this will allow property owners to more quickly start rebuilding — with the same building materials and lax fire safety requirements that failed to protect over 10,000 homes. …There are other building materials… which, when properly installed, withstand extreme heat for at least four hours, enough time for all surrounding foliage and structures to burn out, leaving the house standing.

Related by James Rodriguez in Business Insider: The LA wildfires are trying to tell you something

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Special Report: Mass Timber On The Rise

By Brynn Shaffer
The Los Angeles Business Journal
January 20, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US West

LOS ANGELES — Amid rising surface temperatures and an ongoing climate crisis, scientists and architects alike are working hard to think of creative ways to reduce carbon emissions when it comes to the building sector – which is responsible for roughly 37% of total greenhouse emissions, according to the World Economic Forum. This in part has manifested a rise of mass timber projects across the globe. …“We’re looking for solutions to reduce our carbon impact and timber, wood, is the lowest embodied carbon product,” James Donaldson, a partner at Elysian Park-based architecture firm Johnson Fain, said. “And if you can reduce the embodied carbon of a building, you’re forever locking down its carbon footprint.” …Chinatown welcomed one of the first and largest hybrid CLT buildings in Los Angeles, 843 N. Spring St., when developer Redcar Properties Ltd. unveiled the five-story property in August. 

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Boston University Unveils Mass Timber Tower that Could Become State’s Tallest

By Steve Adams
Banker & Tradesman Massachusetts
February 13, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

Boston University unveiled designs for a new academic building that would become the tallest mass timber tower in Massachusetts. BU’s Pardee School of Global Studies would occupy the 12-story tower at 250 Bay State Road, consolidating classrooms and offices spread across the Charles River campus. With a height of 186 feet, the 70,000-square-foot building maximizes the height allowed for wood-framed buildings under the International Building Code, according to a project filing submitted to the Boston Planning Department. The university envisions the project as a leader in minimizing the use of embedded carbon in building materials. Embedded carbon has become a recent focus of regulators’ efforts to reduce the use of greenhouse gases during manufacturing of traditional construction materials such as steel and concrete. Mass timber projects typically use manufactured wood panels.

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‘Tall Timber: The Future of Cities in Wood’ Exhibition to be Displayed Through March 24

The University of Arkansas News
February 6, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

ARKANSAS — “Tall Timber: The Future of Cities in Wood,” a multimedia exhibition highlighting the use of mass timber in the design and construction of multi-story buildings, opens Friday, Feb. 7, in the first floor corridor of Vol Walker Hall on the University of Arkansas campus. On display through March 24, the exhibition features models, videos and informational graphics. This exhibition is part of the public exhibition series in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Its installation and opening also coincides with the 2025 Arkansas Mass Timber Conference, held Feb. 7-9 in Vol Walker Hall and co-presented by the Fay Jones School and the architecture and planning firm ISG. Some work in the exhibition is by professional practices and designers who are presenting at the conference. …Mass timber buildings are growing taller, with structures up to 18 stories now covered by the International Building Code.

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Georgia Forestry Foundation Creates Mass Timber Hubs in Five Georgia Cities

By Georgia Forestry Foundation
Cision Newswire
January 29, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

FORSYTH, Georgia — The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and Wood Works, kicks off a series of meetings across the state to increase awareness and utilization of mass timber. …The meetings will bring together local architecture, engineering, construction and development teams to spotlight the key benefits of mass timber construction while addressing challenges that may inhibit the utilization of mass timber as a primary structural material. The meetings are strategically hosted in centers for population growth and economic development across the state, including Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Macon and Athens. The creation of the meetings stems from the Mass Timber Accelerator Program launched in Atlanta through a grant funded by the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board. The Georgia Mass Timber Accelerator serves as a launchpad for innovative wood design.

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Fine Tune Your Strategy at the Forest Products Expo 2025

2025 Forest Products Expo
January 28, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

Join us at the 38th Forest Products EXPO from August 6-8, 2025, at the Music City Center in Nashville! This premier event has been the cornerstone of the wood products manufacturing community for more than 70 years, where connections are forged, relationships are fortified, and deals are sealed. EXPO brings together the entire wood products manufacturing community, featuring hundreds of exhibitors unveiling cutting-edge machinery and services tailored for the forest products industry. This event gathers thousands of industry leaders and decision-makers eager to explore innovative products and solutions, including advancements in hardwood and softwood log processing, remanufacturing, pallet industries, bioenergy, engineered wood products, and pressure-treating. Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to showcase your products, connect with key decision-makers, and drive your business forward. Join us for the wood product manufacturing event of the year!

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A Win for American Working Forests: Red Oak and National Security

The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities
January 27, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

The United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities is proud to celebrate a significant milestone for American working forests. The FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act … includes a provision encouraging the U.S. Department of Defense to rapidly transition from Southeast Asian apitong wood to domestically sourced red oak as the preferred material for military trailer decking. This marks a meaningful step toward sustainability, national security, and supporting local economies tied to forestry. “Our domestic hardwood industry has long set the standard for sustainability and security, and it stands ready to meet this vital need for the U.S. military,” said Pete Madden, president and CEO of the Endowment. For decades, apitong, a Southeast Asian hardwood, has been the material of choice for military trailer flooring. …Shifting to domestically sourced red oak ensures a reliable, sustainable supply chain free from geopolitical risks.

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UMaine’s new forest bioproducts program critical to $22 million ‘Tech Hub’ investment

Bangor Daily News
January 23, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

ORONO — Following the recent announcement by Gov. Janet Mills and Maine’s Congressional delegation that Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub will receive an additional $22 million to position Maine as a global leader in forest-based biomaterial production and manufacturing, the University of Maine is advancing plans to launch its Forest Bioproducts Technology Maturation Program, a critical component of the Tech Hub. The Forest Bioproducts Tech Hub’s goal is to accelerate research and development of natural polymers and other wood fiber bioproducts that can sequester carbon and replace plastics and toxic chemicals, while bolstering “Made in America” supply chain goals. …Maine is one of just six Tech Hubs selected to receive an award under new funding for the Tech Hubs Program included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. 

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Fay Jones School receives $300,000 award from U.S. Forest Service

The Magnolia Reporter
January 20, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

Peter MacKeith & Matt Waller

The U.S. Forest Service recently awarded a $300,000 grant to faculty in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Grant funds will be used to identify, research, develop and promote the use of innovative wood construction products and build business opportunities for Arkansas’ forest economy. This federal grant will be matched by the recipients. Matt Waller, dean emeritus and supply chain management professor in the Walton College, along with Peter MacKeith, dean and professor in the Fay Jones School, will work with associated project members to establish the Arkansas Wood Products Innovations Cooperative. The initiative will focus on applied design research, industry collaboration and economic development. …The objectives of the grant funding include establishing the Arkansas Wood Products Innovations Cooperative to drive applied design research, industry collaboration and economic development.

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University of Maine’s new forest bioproducts program critical to $22 million ‘Tech Hub’ investment

UMaine Newsroom
January 16, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

Following the recent announcement by Gov. Janet Mills and Maine’s Congressional delegation that Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub will receive an additional $22 million to position Maine as a global leader in forest-based biomaterial production and manufacturing, the University of Maine is advancing plans to launch its Forest Bioproducts Technology Maturation Program, a critical component of the Tech Hub. The Forest Bioproducts Tech Hub’s goal is to accelerate research and development of natural polymers and other wood fiber bioproducts that can sequester carbon and replace plastics and toxic chemicals, while bolstering “Made in America” supply chain goals… The program will demonstrate new technologies and manufacturing processes at commercial scale, unlocking the potential for forest biomaterials to reach new high-value markets such as plastics and fuels replacements, textiles, building materials, biomedical applications and packaging.

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Scientists Create Ultra-Strong, Biodegradable Wood Straws to Replace Plastic

By Nidhi Dhull
AZO Materials
February 13, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

In a recent article published in Advanced Sustainable Systems, researchers developed an all-natural alternative to plastic straws using a top-down molecular welding approach. This straw is made from de-lignified natural wood infused with chitosan, resulting in a flexible, moldable material that can be shaped as needed.​​​​​​​ Plastic straws are widely used consumer products, prompting significant efforts to develop biodegradable alternatives to replace petroleum-based plastics. However, existing options like polylactic acid and paper straws come with notable drawbacks, making them less-than-ideal substitutes. To effectively replace plastic straws, there is an urgent need for biodegradable, environmentally friendly materials that offer both mechanical durability and water resistance. …Overall, the researchers successfully prepared microplastic-free, ultra-strong, hydro-stable, and biodegradable all-natural bendable straws through a top-down method using earth-abundant natural wood and edible chitosan.

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New South Wales’ tallest commercial all-timber building approved for development

By Adair Winder
Australian Institute of Architecture Magazine
February 10, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

A 13-storey high-rise approved for development in Sydney is slated to become the tallest commercial mass timber building in New South Wales. The building has been designed by architecture and urban design practice Tzannes for property developer NGI Investments. …The weight of the building was a significant consideration during the design process. The structure needed to be lightweight as the site is located above subterranean railway tunnels. Tzannes’s approach for addressing has involved transferring the load from the building’s western side to a central core using a hybrid concrete and steel structure. This system then supports 12 timber commercial floors, with 11 levels rising above the load transfer structure and one suspended below. According to a communique issued by Tzannes, “all timber and steel elements will be crafted for future disassembly and reuse.”

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This Swedish Startup Turns Paper Back into Wood

By Will Speros
Metropolis Magazine
February 10, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

A designer and former technology scout, PaperShell cofounder and CEO Anders Breitholtz sought to unlock solutions for steering the design industry toward a circular economy. …Following some exploration with advisory service Material ConneXion, Breitholtz teamed up with fellow PaperShell cofounder Mathieu Gustafsson in 2018 to begin tests on a new paper alternative. PaperShell’s material possesses a superior strength to wood through intensive compression molding that merges and cross-links paper fibers and bio-resin. The process reintegrates hemicellulose into the substrate to create a dry prepreg that is then cut into blanks and stacked under a large steel press for shaping and trimming. Production waste is turned into biochar as well, setting the basis for a circular economy. “You get a component which is 100 percent biogenic. There’s no fossil carbon inside. It’s just natural materials,” Breitholtz says. “By pressing it really, really hard the paper sheets become a homogeneous material.” 

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Timber stadium proposed for new, relocated Gabba, the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Queensland, Australia

By Cameron Atfield
The Brisbane Times
February 7, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

BRISBANE, Australia — A new Gabba, built right across the road from the old cricket ground, could break records as the world’s largest timber stadium. Architecture firm Kirk Studio’s proposal appeals to the 2032 International Olympic Committee’s sustainability strategy by using renewable construction material. The result would be a 60,000-seat “Gabba West” stadium across Main Street from the existing Gabba. …Speaking to this masthead, architect Richard Kirk said using timber would make Gabba West one of the most environmentally friendly stadiums in the world. “The commitment made in the bid for the Olympics is that it would be six-star Green Star, and a core part of that is we should be replacing up to 40% of the structure with renewable materials,” he said. “And the only renewable building material is timber.” …Using timber would also reduce the stadium’s weight – allowing it to sit more easily above both the Cross River Rail and Clem7 tunnels.

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Governing sustainably – western hemlock adds a touch of sophistication to Indian civic hall

By Pranesh Chhibber
Canada Wood Group
January 30, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

Unveiling its new design, the Indore Nagar Parishad Assembly Hall in India illustrates a thoughtful approach to modern civic interior design through the use of western hemlock – blending aesthetics, functionality, and environmental consciousness. …Recognizing the various benefits of wood and its aesthetic appeal, Ar. Puneet Pandey of VIMA sought a material that could contribute to the intended atmosphere of the space, particularly by incorporating natural elements which can reduce stress and improve cognitive performance through biophilic design principles. The hall needed to be more than just a meeting space; it needed to be aesthetically appealing and contribute to the overall environment, maintaining the sanctity of its purpose. Having established a prior relationship with FII India through trade events and educational seminars, Ar. Puneet Pandey sought the expertise of the FII India team to assist with material selection and project implementation.

 

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Architecture firm clads “first all-wood” mass-timber structure in Mexico with translucent panels

By Ben Dreith
Dezeen
January 30, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

Architecture studio PPAA has unveiled the first building in the country with a structure constructed predominantly of mass timber, claiming it is a “milestone in Mexican architecture”. Located in an industrial complex in Querétaro, Mexico, the building has a structure made almost completely from engineered wood products, prefabricated and assembled on-site, with only the stairwells made of metal. PPAA founder Pablo Pérez Palacios told Dezeen that he chose mass timber for its sustainability, reduced labour costs and the speed of construction, though he noted that mass timber is currently more expensive in Mexico than other common building materials such as steel or concrete… The facade was made from polycarbonate sheets called Danpal, which were chosen to increase the project’s light diffusion, weather resistance and energy efficiency.

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Swedish startup to build pilot plant for wood-based material that purifies the air

The Next Web
January 28, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

Swedish startup Adsorbi has secured €1mn to ramp up production of a cellulose-based material that sucks up pollutants from the air. Bordes and Grenda, the chief researchers, originally wanted to develop new ways to protect works of art from harmful pollution. But in the process, they discovered a way to turn cellulose from Sweden’s abundant forests into an air purification material with wide-ranging applications… The substance — which looks like little, white pieces of sponge — promises a better, greener alternative to activated carbon, the current market standard. Adsorbi claims its product lasts longer, doesn’t release any hazardous organic compounds back into the air, and is water and fire-resistant. Plus, the material has half the carbon footprint of activated carbon, the startup said.

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The shape-shifting biomaterials that make buildings move

World Bio Market Insights
January 22, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

One of the amazing things about plants is their ability to change shape in response to environmental stimuli such as light and moisture, even without a brain or central nervous system. Now, a new generation of biomaterials is similarly able to respond to environmental cues… The research started off with cellulose – a material found in plants that changes size in line with humidity levels around it… In terms of borrowing from nature, this adaptive material ticks all the boxes. First, it is made from plant raw materials. Cellulose is an abundant natural material found in the cell walls of plants, fruits, leaves, and vegetables. Second, the cellulose is processed in ways that are inspired by the makeup of biological organisms. In short, it is both a biomaterial (made from biological stuff) and a bio-inspired material (designed based on biological mechanisms).

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Sweden is Building the World’s Largest City Made Entirely From Timber

By Maddy Savage
Time Magazine
January 18, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — A yellow crane hovers above a building site in Sickla, a former industrial neighbourhood that’s home to one of Stockholm’s biggest real estate projects. But instead of delivering concrete, it’s manoeuvring giant chunks of wood to construction staff working in sub-zero winter temperatures. This is the beginning of what Swedish property developer Atrium Ljungberg describes as “the largest mass timber project in the world.” On the outskirts of Sweden’s capital, construction of ‘Stockholm Wood City’ began in October and is set to provide 2,000 new homes by 2027. The company’s core goal is to improve the sustainability of construction projects. Building with wood instead of concrete and steel would… help offset half of Europe’s construction industry emissions. …Atrium Ljungberg also hopes the wooden buildings themselves will boost locals’ wellbeing. There is already a small but growing body of academic research linking wooden materials with lower stress levels.

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