The Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment on Hardwood Lumber Production in New Brunswick, Canada

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Abstract

Increasing wood usage from sustainably managed forests is vital for reducing environmental footprints and combating climate change. This study conducted a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for hardwood lumber in New Brunswick, Canada, evaluating environmental impacts from raw material extraction to the point where lumber exited the mill as rough green, the primary input for manufacturing secondary hardwood products. Data on annual production, material flow, and energy use for hardwood harvesting and sawmills in 2022 were gathered through survey questionnaires and on-site visits to one forestry company and two hardwood plants. A mass allocation approach was used for the product (lumber) and by-products. The life cycle inventory (LCI) was developed in SimaPro software, and the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was conducted using the North American TRACI method to quantify impact categories, including Global Warming Potentials. The Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) method analyzed total energy consumption. The study found rough green hardwood lumber production emitted approximately 41 kgCO2eq/m³ (excluding biogenic carbon storage), with manufacturing accounting for 42% of total emissions. Manufacturing consumed nearly twice the energy of harvesting. The carbon stored in lumber was 975 CO2 eq/m³, 24 times greater than its cradle-to-gate emissions, highlighting its significant environmental benefit.

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