Abstract

The construction sector, a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, offers considerable potential for climate change mitigation through the substitution of traditional building materials with timber. While engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber and glulam have gained attention for structural applications, the use of lower-grade wood and industrial residues for durable, non-structural construction elements remain underexplored. This study evaluates the opportunities and challenges of incorporating low-grade wood into construction, specifically assessing potential climate benefits, mapping material flows along the wood value chain, and modelling carbon storage dynamics in products and by-products over a 100-year horizon, all based on secondary information sources. Using case studies from Mexico, Spain, and Chile, we analyse timber use scenarios that integrate lower-grade wood into construction materials. Results show that redirecting lower-grade wood into construction can increase carbon storage in products by 2 % to 35 %, depending on species growth rates, rotation lengths, sawmill efficiency, and timber quality. Yet, quality constraints and logistical barriers limit large-scale adoption. Unlocking this potential will require improved forest management, advanced processing technologies, and supportive regulatory frameworks. The findings demonstrate that both structural and nonstructural applications can extend the lifecycle of wood and amplify its climate benefit, while regional differences in species growth, rotation lengths, and timber quality highlight the need for context-specific strategies to realise this potential.