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/>