Reducing the land-use impact of wooden buildings with fast-growing biobased materials: A Danish case study

Abstract

This study explores the potential of the reduced demand for land and increase in biogenic CO₂ storage for incorporating crop-based products in wooden buildings. It uses case studies to create a material-flow analysis of future Danish building stock with four market-implementation scenarios. Alternative biobased materials show reductions in the land requirements and improved CO₂ storage, especially for single-family and multifamily houses. This causes a decrease of 50–61 % in the use of wooded land. Danish straw can supply almost a 50 % implementation, rising to 100 % when combined with grass materials. Building designers and planners are encouraged to prioritize fast-growing biobased materials to minimize the requirements for land in wooden buildings. To achieve this, policy-makers should harmonize inclusive biobased building codes, upskill the workforce and financially support pre-approved solutions. Equally important is to investigate the cross-sectoral synergies between construction and agriculture to govern land for its enhanced environmental and social benefits.