Findings from a survey conducted within the WOOD4LIFE project

8 minutes

The growing concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), is recognized as one of the main drivers of the ongoing climate crisis (IPCC, 2023). Policies and initiatives aimed at reducing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are therefore essential to counter the climate crisis, and among these, those related to the forestry sector, its management, and its products must play a key role. Indeed, forests represent one of the main sinks for atmospheric CO₂ absorption: specific activities such as afforestation and responsible forest management can therefore increase their absorption potential, while simultaneously providing multiple ecosystem services (FAO, 2020). Other activities linked to the forestry sector, such as the use of products derived from forest management — including wood-based materials — as substitutes for products derived from fossil raw materials, also represent one of the most effective strategies for climate change mitigation (Grassi et al., 2021).

For example, replacing conventional building materials with structural timber can reduce emissions during the construction phase by up to 69%, corresponding to an average reduction of 216 kg of CO₂ equivalent per square meter of usable floor area (Himes and Busby, 2020).

For these reasons, the European Union has identified wood as a key material for future strategies, as highlighted by Ursula von der Leyen, who in her State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in September 2020 emphasized how the construction sector could be transformed “from a carbon source to a carbon sink” precisely through the use of timber materials. Several legislative initiatives at the European level, such as the Renovation Wave Strategy and the New European Bauhaus initiative, actively promote the use of wood in the construction sector.

In light of this, it is essential to transparently promote the role of wood as a carbon sink, through the adoption of robust methodologies and independent standards capable of quantifying the carbon stored in products (FAO, 2020b).
This need for transparency in quantification processes also emerges in relation to other forest-based ecosystem services, such as the protection and enhancement of biodiversity (Pettenella et al., 2023).

In order to improve the transparency of markets based on carbon valorization, in 2024 the European Commission published the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) regulation (EU/2024/3012), which includes among the eligible activities for increasing stored carbon both silvicultural practices and the use of long-lasting wood products. For the latter, the publication of methodologies is scheduled by the end of 2026, with the regulation entering into operation in 2027.

Objectives and methodology of the survey

In the near future, the use of wood products will therefore be increasingly valued, as they represent potential carbon sinks while the forest supply chains from which they derive can contribute to the valorization of other ecosystem services. It is therefore essential to assess whether companies in the wood sector and consumers are adequately prepared for the introduction of the CRCF regulation, and whether the entire supply chain is ready to adopt a certification system aimed at recognizing long-lasting wood products for their environmental benefits.

Building on these premises, within the framework of the Life WOOD4LIFE project, a study entitled “Market analysis of wood products and their ecosystem services” was conducted, aimed at understanding which factors, according to companies in the wood sector (both Italian and Spanish), may facilitate or hinder the implementation of the CRCF regulation — including consumer awareness levels and the role of forest certifications.

The research, carried out by Etifor in collaboration with other WOOD4LIFE project partners — in particular the Italian organization Conlegno and FSC® Spain — was based on a questionnaire consisting of 22 questions, completed by 156 companies in the supply chain, and can be downloaded free of charge from the project website.

The WOOD4LIFE European project aims to engage the various actors of the forest supply chain, testing improved forest management practices in some productive forests in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, to enhance carbon sequestration, conserve biodiversity, and produce wood to supply long-lasting wood-based product industries, such as the construction sector.

The project proposes tools and business models to reactivate the forest supply chain and strengthen its central role in climate change mitigation through the carbon sequestration capacity of wood products, in line with the CRCF regulation.

Main findings of the survey

Companies surveyed in the context of the study rarely communicate the environmental benefits of using wood products — such as, for example, their contribution to carbon storage. Indeed, almost 70% of the companies interviewed stated that, over the past five years, their marketing materials have not highlighted the carbon storage function of wood products (Figure 1). However, the majority of companies, both in Italy and Spain, expressed their intention to launch such communication campaigns in the future, signaling growing awareness of the forthcoming European regulations on the matter.

This lack of promotion of environmental benefits stems not only from possible technical difficulties, but also from the widespread perception among surveyed companies that consumers are not fully aware of the environmental advantages associated with the use of wood, including its capacity to store carbon.

In the last five years, has your company’s promotional material highlighted the role of wood in contributing to carbon storage and, therefore, in the fight against climate change?

Awareness of the CRCF regulation and possible challenges for companies

Although the CRCF regulation and its mechanisms will be implemented in the coming months, and companies in the wood sector will be directly or indirectly affected, the level of awareness of the regulation among Italian and Spanish companies — assessed during the survey conducted in the summer of 2025 — appears quite low. Overall, 52% of respondents stated they have limited knowledge of the regulation, more than a quarter indicated they have no familiarity with it at all, while only 3% said they were well informed about it (Figure 2).

What is your level of knowledge of Regulation (EU) 3012/2024 (CRCF)?

The surveyed companies, both Italian and Spanish, identify bureaucratic complexity and high costs as the main obstacles to the correct implementation of the CRCF regulation. Both of these aspects appear to be linked to the perception that the certification process may be complex and economically burdensome. For this reason, existing and widely used forest certifications in the sector — such as FSC — are seen by companies as potentially important tools for quantifying and certifying the carbon stored in wood products. Indeed, 55% of the companies surveyed believe that these certifications should play a significant role in the process of quantifying carbon stored in wood products.

Conclusions and future developments

In light of the survey findings, there is a clear need to launch communication campaigns to raise consumer awareness of the environmental benefits of wood products. It is also essential to promote initiatives aimed at companies in the sector, so that they are adequately informed and prepared regarding the objectives of European regulations linked to the role of wood in climate change mitigation, such as the CRCF regulation.

Such initiatives should involve the various actors in the supply chain, including national industry associations, research institutes, environmental organizations, and existing forest certification schemes, given their significant market recognition.

In the coming months, the WOOD4LIFE project will implement strategies based on real case studies, involving the development of practical and operational tools, in order to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge in this field and support the adoption of such practices by companies across the forest-wood sector.

Etifor will closely monitor forthcoming developments in the CRCF regulation and the WOOD4LIFE project, to ensure adequate support for companies — including those in the forest-wood sector — that wish to undertake, leveraging the various elements of the bioeconomy, a path aimed at generating positive environmental impacts.

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