Applications of European hardwoods in high-value building products
European forests are dominated by softwood monocultures (forests that consist of only one species), which are increasingly vulnerable to pests, diseases and wildfires due to climate change. Foresters are encouraged to increase tree species diversity to improve forest health and resilience. As a result, more hardwood timber will become available in the future. Hardwood species include birch, oak, beech, ash, aspen, poplar and others. Although Europe has many hardwood species, they are currently underused, representing 8% of sawn timber production in the EU (FAOSTAT, 2025).
The WoodStock project identified applications for hardwoods in construction sector that are of higher economic and ecological value, showing new market opportunities. Examples of innovative building products made from local hardwoods, ranging from products already on the market to promising concepts under development are collected in Deliverable 5.3. Products already available include glue-laminated beams, laminated veneer lumber, door and window frames, mass timber panels, structural connectors and others. Hardwoods such as oak and beech have high density and strength, allowing slimmer sections and specialised uses. Several species are selected because of their natural durability and aesthetics (e.g. oak). Despite challenges including variable material properties and limitations in sorting and strength grading, designers and manufacturers are successfully adapting products to hardwood properties.
Foresters can benefit from growing and supplying hardwoods for specialised construction uses instead of low-value markets. Even species previously underused find profitable outlets when matched with the right product.
Collaboration with sawmills, manufacturers and architects is key to promote the use of local hardwoods, create demand for them and, as a result, increase biodiversity and resilience of European forests. While challenges remain, demand for local hardwoods in construction is expected to grow.
Additional information
Diverse forests with a higher share of hardwood species have the potential to deliver both ecological resilience and economic value when hardwoods are actively integrated into durable building products. Obstacles include hardwood grading limitations, higher processing complexity, and inconsistent supply. Facilitating factors are the increasing interest in climate-resilient forests, local sourcing, emerging innovative building design concepts and incentives for decarbonisation in the construction sector. Future actions should focus on improving hardwood grading methods, including them in building standards, sharing best practices between regions, and supporting pilot projects that connect foresters with manufacturers and designers.
WoodStock - Empowering climate-smart, circular, and zero-waste use of underutilised wood in the European construction sector to support the New European Bauhaus
Ongoing | 2024-2028
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Belgium, Slovenia, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Finland
Project Keywords
- Circular economy, incl. waste, by-products and residues
- Climate change (incl. GHG reduction, adaptation and mitigation, and other air related issues)
- Competitiveness/new business models
- Digitalisation, incl. data and data technologies
- Forestry
- Social innovation
- Supply chain, marketing and consumption
- Biodiversity and nature
- Landscape/land management