8:02 a.m.
Dear colleague
I would like to inform you that SETAC Helsinki meeting scientific committee has granted us
a (block of) session(s) on LCA of wood and wood based products. The call for abstracts is
now open.
Time & Place: 26-30.5.2018, Helsinki
Abstract submission closes: 28.11.2018 (https://helsinki.setac.org/ )
No full paper if needed, an abstract or an extended (2 pages) abstract is ok, depending on
intended type of presentation. Note that before submitting your abstract you have to
register as a guest member (free) or full member (with fee). 24 hours processing time may
needed.
SETAC is a not-for-profit professional international organization dedicated to the study,
analysis and solution of environmental problems, the management and regulation of natural
resources, research and development and environmental education. See
www.setac.org<http://www.setac.org> .
The annual meeting has seven main tracks, one for Life Cycle Assessment and Footprinting.
We have been honored to have a session included in the LCA track (number 5) with title:
Environmental footprints of wood and wood based products. The session may consist on
several blocks, depending on the success of the call.
We will welcome any LCA study over forest-wood value chain to the session. In our
knowledge this is the first wood products related session in an international LCA
conference.
Session: Environmental footprints of wood and wood based products
Under track 5. Life Cycle Assessment and Footprinting
Chair: Tarmo Räty (tarmo.raty@luke.fi<mailto:tarmo.raty@luke.fi>)
Co-chairs: Lauri Linkosalmi
(lauri.linkosalmi@storaenso.com<mailto:lauri.linkosalmi@storaenso.com>), Lars G.F.
Tellnes (lars@ostfoldforskning.no<mailto:lars@ostfoldforskning.no>)
The rise of the bioeconomy is challenging the society to facilitate production with better
environmental performance as well as solid and evidence-based policy making. European
Commission adopted already in 2012 the strategy "Innovating for sustainable Growth: A
Bioeconomy for Europe", and bio-based products represent one of the three pillars of
bioeconomy, along with two other pillars food&feed and bioenergy.
Wood and other forestry-based materials provide a strong base for new industries of
bio-based products. Evolving technologies allow innovative new wood products entering the
markets, in many cases replacing established production.
The environmental impacts of wood-based products are a combination of forest management
procedures such as seedling production and tilling as well as wood processing. Advanced
LCA methods are needed to ensure the environmental sustainability of this growing branch
of bioeconomy. The dynamics of carbon dioxide in forestry and wood processing all the way
to the use phase is important to cover, as well as water footprint of forestry.
Environmental performance of innovative processes for nanocellulose preparation,
hemicellulose modification, products for textile industry and extraction of side streams,
to name a few, should be studied in detail.
LCA serves as a useful information source in eco-design processes of new products and
business, but considerable shortcomings in available inventories and impact assessments
still prevail. The session of Environmental footprints of wood and wood based products
discusses on environmental problems related to: modelling wood material and its spatial
variability, management of the forest-wood value chain's environmental performance and
biodiversity, assessment of modified wood and new innovations of wood based materials and
environmental communication within wood based industry. Also case studies on new
wood-based products and implementations in business are welcome.
Yours
Tarmo Räty (Chair) and Co-Chairs Lauri Linkosalmi and Lars G.F. Tellnes
Tarmo Räty<https://www.luke.fi/en/personnel/tarmo-raty/>
Senior Scientist
Natural Resources Institute Finland
Phone +358 29 532 5184
Luke promotes bioeconomy and sustainable use of natural
resources.<https://www.luke.fi/en/research/natural-resources-economy-in-the-society/>