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Sustainability and Carbon

Access a selection of resources for assessing and managing sustainability and carbon within mass timber projects. Each entry includes the resource name, source, link, and description. These tools offer valuable, reliable, and industry-focused information to support your sustainability efforts effectively.

EC3 Embodied Carbon Calculator

Carbon Leadership Forum

A tool to calculate the embodied carbon of a project. It can be used for benchmarking, assessment and reduction of embodied carbon in construction materials. It is free to use and intended to supplement (not replace) life cycle analyses (LCA).​

What is biogenic carbon and why should it be included in a project's LCA? Additional resources included in the article provide specifics about how to include biogenic carbon in your LCA.

Inclusion of Biogenic Carbon in LCAs
WoodWorks
How to Use the EC3 Tool

Carbon Leadership Forum

A supplemental guide to accompany the EC3 Carbon Calculator. This briefing explains what carbon is encompassed in the EC3 calculations. The briefing also gives guidance for how the EC3 tool can be usefully applied at each stage of a project.

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These sources compare the requirements to meet FSC and SFI certification standards. Comparison of factors such as sustainable harvest levels, chemical use, and community inclusion.

FSC vs SFI Certification Comparisons
FSC & SFI
4 experts on sustainable mass timber and the green future of building

World Economic Forum

This source highlights the role of the construction industry in emissions. It discusses mass timber at a basic level, mentions multiple aspects of the mass timber supply life cycle, and how mass timber can play a role in supporting a sustainable timber industry.

The role of the timber industry and biomaterials in Michigans economy, both historically and today.

A great future ahead with Michigan's forest biomaterials
The Michigan Forest Biomaterials Institute, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy
Impact Estimator for Buildings

Athena Sustainable

Materials Institute

A free software tool to evaluate whole buildings and assemblies based on internationally recognized LCA methodology.

Simple infographic outlining the growth and potential of mass timber in the U.S. Use with the detailed report that can be found below.

Mass Timber Report Key Takeaways
Dovetail Partners Inc.
Forest & Forest Product Carbon Benefits Graphic

Dovetail Partners Inc.

A simple infographic describing carbon cycling in the wood environment. 

A more in depth report covering carbon storage, benefits of mass timber, life cycle of wood, and building with wood.

Building with Wood
Dovetail Partners Inc.
Cintrafor and NRSIG Research Overview

ThinkWood

Infographic about expected changes to wood demand and the ability of U.S. forests to accommodate such changes. See more detailed sources that contributed to the making of this infographic below.

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