Circular Approaches for Wood and Wooden Composites

The transition from a linear economy to a circular economy is essential to address the global challenges of climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. This chapter focuses on the circular use of wood and wood-based products, emphasizing the integration of the monitoring and material simulation data into the circularity assessment. The chapter discusses various recovery methods, including mechanical recycling, thermal, and chemical treatment, along with the role of smart sorting and processing technologies in optimizing the use of wood resource. A case study on the modular construction of a daycare building in Sippoo, Finland, is presented, demonstrating two basic assessment methods for material circularity: Ellen MacArthur’s Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) and the calculation of loads and benefits beyond the LCA system boundary caused by recycling and material reuse.