This document presents a systematic approach developed in the Netherlands to achieve more sustainable use of wood as a renewable resource. The approach consists of 6 steps: 1) Analyze wood flows and end uses, 2) Reduce wood product end uses, 3) Achieve appropriate fit, 4) Encourage cascading, 5) Increase wood processing efficiency, and 6) Evaluate combined impact. The analysis found that primary wood consumption could be reduced by 2/3 through applying options identified in steps 2-5, such as size reduction, fuller wood utilization, and substituting wood for less sustainable materials.

1. ELSEVIER Resources, Conservationand Recycling20 (1997) 19-29
Towards sustainable use of the renewable resource
wood in the Netherlands
a systematic approach
Marije C.C. Lafleur *, Peter J. Fraanje
I VA M Environmental Researeh, University of Amsterdam, Department of Product and Process Studies,
P.O. Box 18180, 1001 ZB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Received l0 October 1996; received in revised form 26 November 1996; accepted 17 December 1996
Abstract
Primary wood is an important renewable resource. To counteract increasing pressures on
forests a systematic approach has been developed to achieve a more sustainable use of wood
in the Netherlands. This approach aims at using primary wood as efficiently as possible and
with appropriate fit. The application thereof has led to an inventory of 81 relatively simple
technical wood saving options and 23 options that increase the use of wood by substitution
of environmentally less appropriate materials. It was found that overall the consumption of
wood in the Netherlands may be reduced by about two-thirds. The application of a similar
approach may be feasible for other countries in order to analyse their wood consumption
and to find out how to achieve a more sustainable use. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Keywords: Sustainable use; Renewable resources; Wood consumption; Cascading; Efficient
use; Appropriate fit
* Corresponding author. Tel: +31 20 5255080; fax: + 31 20 5255850; email: MLAFLEUR@
IVAMBV.UVA.NL.
0921-3449/97/$17.00 © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII S0921-3449(97)01 195-6

2. 20 M.C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje / Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29
1. Introduction
Primary wood has been, and still is, an important renewable resource for
mankind. It has many highly appreciated characteristics like its useful (technical)
properties such as strength, flexibility and a relatively low specific density. It also has
properties (appearance, smell) which people appreciate [1]. Wood is used in a wide
variety of applications. Examples are the application of wood in buildings as a
construction material and in furniture. But wood is also a major resource for the
paper industry and in a lot of countries it is the most important fuel. The amount
of wood that is consumed nowadays however is so large that in many areas of the
world the forest areas are reduced and the quality of the forests is deteriorating.
Ecological damage (sometimes severe) has been established in tropical, temperate [2]
and boreal forests. It is expected that the pressure on forests may increase further
in the near future due to population growth and increasing consumption of wood
per head of the population [3,4]. Moreover one may argue that there is a case for
substituting virtually non-renewables by conditionally renewables such as wood [5].
From this characterisation of the present consumption level and expected future
developments it can be concluded that increased sustainability of wood production
and use in the near future is an urgent matter. Against this background a systematic
approach has been developed to achieve a more sustainable use of wood in the
Netherlands. 'More sustainable use' is defined as using primary wood as efficiently
as possible and applying wood when there is an appropriate fit [6,7], meaning that
wood is applied on the highest possible quality level on the basis of its properties.
2. Method
By analogy to methodologies that have emerged in response to the oil crisis in
1973 [8], a six step approach (Fig. 1) has been developed to achieve a more
sustainable use of primary wood. Firstly, an analysis of the inputs and outputs of
(primary) wood and an analysis of the (end)use of wood derived products in the
Dutch economy is executed. In the next four steps the two basic ideas of using
primary wood as efficiently as possible and with appropriate fit are elaborated in
four categories of measures that can be taken. The options generated, reflecting
measures that may be taken, consist of relatively simple technical possibilities which
can be implemented fairly easily. The last step included in the methodology is the
evaluation of the combined impact of measures generated in the four previous steps.
2.1. Step 1: an input-output analysis of primary wood flows and a quantitative
analysis of the (end)use of wood derived products
The goal of this analysis is to acquire quantitative data that can be used in the
next steps of the systematic approach. In Fig. 2 an overview is given of the kind of
information that is required.

3. M. C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje / Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19 29 21
Data were collected on the major wood commodities that are imported, exported
and produced in the Netherlands. Export and import consist of all the commodities
that cross the Dutch border except the transit trade. Produced in this context relates
to wood that is harvested in the Netherlands. From these data it is possible to
calculate the primary consumption of wood in the Netherlands (import + produc-
t i o n - export = primary consumption). The relevant information was found in
national and international statistics.
Subsequently, quantitative information on the major wood commodities that are
processed by the Dutch processing industry and information on the (end)use of
wood derived products by different user categories was collected. The sources for
these data are, amongst others, statistics of the processing industries, figures of
branch and sales organisations and data on the composition of waste of different
user categories.
STEP1 An i n p u t - o u t p u t a n a l y s i s o f p r i m a r y w o o d f l o w s and a
q u a n t i t a t i v e a n a l y s i s of the ( e n d ) u s e of w o o d d e r i v e d
products
Y
I
STEP2
R e d u c e the ( e n d ) u s e o f w o o d d e r i v e d p r o d u c t s
i
STEP3
A p p r o p r i a t e fit
i
Y
STEP4
Cascading
Y
i
STEP 5
I n c r e a s e e f f i c i e n c y of w o o d p r o c e s s i n g
v
i
STEP6
E v a l u a t i o n o f the c o m b i n e d i m p a c t o f steps 2, 3, 4 and 5
i
Fig. 1. A schematic presentation of the systematic approach to achieve a more sustainable use of wood.

4. 22 M.C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje/ Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29
..................................... i
DUTCH ECONOMY
i
i
PROOUCTION: *
i
harvesting of w o o d in
The Netherlands
i
IN OUT
primary wood u s a o f w o o d in p r o c e s s i n g I n d u s t r y : primary wood
(round wood, f u r n i t u r e Industry, printing industry, carpentry (round w o o d ,
sawn wood, industry, a t e , sawn w o o d .
w o o d pased w o o d pased
panels, pulp) panels, pulp)
secondary secondary
w o o d (wood I w o o d (wood
based panels. ( e n d ) u s e o f w o o d d e r i v e d p r o d u c t s by I based panels,
different user categories :
I
pulp) pulp)
households, o f f i c e s , building industry, e t c ,
- __ ,,~;c.J'Jf"~J~"~'~ _~"~__.~ ......
products with a i i products with a
s h o r t life s p a n :
~ l o n g life s p a n :
newspaper, w i n d o w frame,
printing paper, [ [floor, s t a i r s , b e n c h :
packaging,
fuelwood ~ . . . . .
r
Fig. 2. Schematic presentation of the quantitative information that has to be obtained via an
input-output analysis.
2.2. Step 2: reduction of the (end)use of wood derived products
Reducing the (end)use of wood derived products, thereby optimising the effi-
ciency of the consumption is the first step to come to more sustainable use of wood.
Options were identified which lead to a reduction of the (end)use of wood derived
products by endusers such as households, offices and the building industry.
Examples are size reduction and fuller use. For the generation of this kind of
options use was made of literature and discussions with actors involved in the use
of wood derived products [9,10].
2.3. Step 3: achieve appropriate fit
Secondly, measures were taken to achieve appropriate fit. Appropriate fit is the
first principle behind the concept of resource-cascading, which can be defined as the
sequential exploitation of the full potential of a resource during its use [11-13]. In
Fig. 3 the principle of resource cascading is shown.
The figure shows that cascading means that a resource is first applied in a
product with a high quality (Q(t = 0)), the life time of each product (zl t) is extended

5. M.C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje/ Resourees, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29 23
as far as possible and sound from an environmental point of view and that quality
loss (A q) per application is minimised.
To achieve appropriate fit wood may be replaced by other materials or other
materials may be replaced by wood. For instance, primary roundwood of a pine
tree which has just been felled should be used as a supporting beam first, thereby
utilizing properties (like strength) of massive wood, and not directly as a resource
for the paper production. When making paper directly from primary, vegetable
sources, one should rather use annuals such as flax or hemp, instead of wood.
Another example of appropriate fit is that wood should, in some cases, be used as
a substitute for virtually non-renewable materials f.i. in buildings and interiors.
Options coming in this category can be derived from literature and discussions with
the actors involved [14-16].
2.4. Step 4: cascading
Following the principle of resource-cascading also means taking measures to
reuse wood as often as is possible and responsible. Therefore in this fourth step,
options were generated for reusing wood. For such options actors have been
interviewed and use has been made of literature [17,18].
2.5. Step 5: increase eJficiency of wood processing
Measures to increase the efficiency were aimed at the wood processing industry
and were derived from literature and via discussions with people involved in the
processing industry and other users of wood [19,20].
AI
quality Q
- --.~ A t
,
con
-ventional
use
time t
Fig. 3. A resource cascade.

6. 24 M . C C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje / Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29
2.6. Step 6: evaluation of the combined impact of steps 2, 3, 4 and 5
In this step the results of the input-output analysis and the inventory of options
to come to more sustainable use of wood were combined to get an overview of what
can be achieved. The results can be used by producers, consumers and (non-
)governmental organisations to take action.
3. Results
3.1. Analysis of primary wood flows and of (end)use of wood derived products
Figures were available [21-23] on the Dutch gross import, export and production
of five commodities; roundwood, sawn wood, wood based panels, pulp and
paper/cardboard. To obtain data on the consumption of primary wood the
calculated gross wood consumption had to be corrected for double counting (wood
that is being processed, thereby changing from one commodity into the other) and
for the use of secondary wood. The remaining woodflow was defined as the primary
wood consumption.
Furthermore, a distinction was made between wood that is used less than one
year in a single application (short life span) and wood that is utilised more than 10
years in a single application (long life span). The applications in which wood has
been used for a short life span can be subdivided in 'wood' applications (such as
fuel wood and disposable crates) and 'paper and cardboard' applications.
These quantitative data could only be estimated. The results are presented in
Table 1.
It appeared that the degree to which the Netherlands is self supporting is
approximately 8%. Therefore, it can be concluded that the consumption of wood in
the Netherlands depends to a high degree on the production which takes place
abroad. A comparison of the consumption figures with the import and export
figures which are all three considerable, also leads to the conclusion that the use of
wood in the Netherlands can also be characterised as being very dynamic. The
difference between the gross wood consumption and the primary wood consump-
tion shows that the amount of secondary paper used in the Netherlands is
substantial, although there is still a considerable amount of primary wood (pulp)
that is used as a resource for paper production. An explanation can partly be found
in the fact that the collection of used paper (and other products made out of wood
and remainders of the wood processing industry) in the Netherlands is quite
successful. The consumption of primary wood in wood applications with a short life
span is not to be neglected.
The quantitative analysis of the consumption of wood derived products of
various user categories only resulted in rough estimates of this consumption due to
lack of proper data. It can be concluded that of all products with a long life span
(mainly sawn wood and wood based panels) approximately 65% is used 4n the
building industry, whereas households have a share of about 35% due to do-it-your-

7. M.C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje/ Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19 29 25
Table 1
The gross production, import and export and gross and primary consumption of wood ~ with a short
or long life span in the Netherlands in 1990 (in 1000 m 3 roundwood equivalencies r.e. b
Round- Sawn wood Wood based Paper/card- Pulp Total
wood panels boar&
Production 1500 790 120 8780 11 190
Import 810 5700 2700 7510 16 720
Export 550 600 250 6530 7930
Gross wood con- 1760 5890 2570 9760 19 980
sumption
Short life span 650d 665 100 9760 l l 175
Long life span 1110 5220 2475 88()5
Primary wood 265 5230 2145 3740 11 380
consumption
Short life span 230 520 65 3740 4555
Long life span 35 4710 2080 6825
"It should be noticed that these are approximate figures. More detailed figures and a thorough analysis
of the various data which are available is given in [24]. It should also be noticed that in some cases the
data had to be recalculated via conversion factors, because often the data are given in tonnes o1 cubic
meters.
bThis unit can be defined as the amount of roundwood that is necessary to produce a wood derived
product.
qt has been assumed that the amount of pulp that is produced, imported, exported and consumed in the
Netherlands is covered by figures on paper and cardboard.
d300 000 m 3 r.e. of the roundwood consumption of 650 000 m 3 r.e. with a short life span is used J'or the
production of pulp. It is justified to leave this amount out because it has also been assumed that the pulp
consumption is included in the data on the consumption of paper/cardboard.
self activities. It c a n also be c o n c l u d e d t h a t h o u s e h o l d s are r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a b o u t
50% o f t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f p a p e r a n d c a r d b o a r d .
3.2. Inventor)' o f measures to achieve more sustainable wood in the Netherlana~"
I n t h e n e x t f o u r steps o p t i o n s w e r e g e n e r a t e d t h a t m a y e x p e c t to i m p r o v e
s u s t a i n a b l e use. I n T a b l e 2 a s u m m a r y is g i v e n o f t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f o p t i o n s t h a t
w e r e g e n e r a t e d in e a c h step a n d the m o s t i m p o r t a n t o p t i o n s w h i c h h a v e b e e n
i d e n t i f i e d are p r e s e n t e d .
I n t o t a l 81 o p t i o n s to s a v e o n the w o o d c o n s u m p t i o n w e r e g e n e r a t e d . O n t h e
o t h e r h a n d 23 o p t i o n s to i n c r e a s e t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f w o o d f o r the a c h i e v e m e n t o f
a p p r o p r i a t e fit h a v e b e e n identified.
3.3. Evaluation
T h e e s t i m a t e d c u m u l a t i v e i m p a c t o f the o p t i o n s g e n e r a t e d in step 2, 3, 4 a n d 5
is p r e s e n t e d in T a b l e 3. O n l y the r e d u c t i o n o f t h e g r o s s w o o d c o n s u m p t i o n c o u l d

8. 26 M.C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje/ Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29
be calculated. Besides, the figures in Table 3 only give an indication of the total
amount that can be saved, because it was not possible to calculate the amount of
wood that could be saved or would be necessary for all the generated options.
Table 3a shows the cumulative impact pertinent to specific wood derived products.
In Table 3b an overview is given of the cumulative impact that can be achieved via
Table 2
Options generated for achieving a more sustainable use of wood in the Netherlands
Step Total number Most important options
of options
Reduce the (end)use of wood derived 44 Reduce the size of newspapers
products
Reduce the amount of packaging ma-
terials
Reduce the amount of advertising
leaflets
Use both sides of paper in copiers,
printers etc.
The introduction of reusable packaging
Reuse buildings
Achieve appropriate fit 33
Options by which wood is replaced by 10 Hempfibers as a resource to upgrade
other materials pulp made out of secondary paper
Hempshives as a replacement for
wood based panels
Straw as a resource for paper and
cardboard production
Use flaxshives in panels
Options by which other materials are 23 Increase the share of woodframe
replaced by wood buildings in building industry
Increase the share of wooden compo-
nents in buildings (f.i. floors, window
frames, doors)
Cascading 12 More secondary wood for the produc-
tion of wood based panels
Reuse waste from building industry
Reuse demolition waste
Increase the efficiency of wood process- 15 Optimisation of peeling techniques
ing
Use pulp produced via a mechanical
process instead of a chemical process
More pre-fab components in the build-
ing industry
Optimisation of wood consumption for
the production of window frames

9. M,C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje/ Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29 27
Table 3
Indication of the total amount of wood that can be saved in the Netherlands in 1000 m3 roundwood
equivalents (r.e.)
A B
Reduction related to wood 1000 m3 r.e. Reductionrelated to steps 1000 m3 r.e.
derived products
Paper/cardboard 5330 reduce (end)use 5880
Pulp 3830 Appropriate fit 3890
• Reduction 4370
• Increase - 480
'Wood' application with: Cascading 1200
Short life span 1250
Long life span: 2690
• Reduction 3170 Increase efficiency of wood pro- 2490
cessing
• Increase -480
General 360
Total 13 460 Total 13 460
respective reduction of the (end)use, appropriate fit, cascading and improvement of
the efficiency in the wood processing industry.
Our research shows that with relatively simple measures the gross consumption
of wood in the Netherlands may be reduced by about two-thirds, even when
expanding the application of wood in the building industry. Seventy percent of the
reduction comes from reducing the end-use, cascading and increased efficiency of
wood processing. Appropriate fit, whereby wood is replaced by crops like hemp and
flax is contributing about 30%.
F r o m a comparison of these results with the reference situation (shown in Table
1) it can also be derived that the consumption of paper and cardboard can be
halved. Approximately 80% of this reduction can be achieved by reducing the
demand for paper/cardboard via measures such as two sided printing, less packag-
ing materials and reduction of the size of newspapers. The consumption of wood in
'wood' applications with a short life span can also be reduced considerably (by
approximately 90%). Especially the introduction of reusable crates and pallets result
in a considerable saving of wood. The consumption of long life span wood products
can be reduced by approximately 30%. The main savings can be achieved via the
introduction of other resources for the production of wood based panels which can
be applied in the building industry, because this is more in accordance with the
principle of appropriate fit. Resources which are more appropriate are secondary
wood from the processing industry, flax- or hempshives.
4. Discussion
In this article it is shown that the two basic ideas behind 'more sustainable use',
using primary wood as efficiently as possible and appropriate fit, have functioned as

10. 28 M.C.C. Lafleur, P.J. Fraanje /Resources, Conservation and Recycling 20 (1997) 19-29
useful guidance to generate measures to come to a more sustainable use of wood.
The estimate on the amount of primary wood that can possibly be saved, can be
optimised if better data become available on the primary wood savings.
A similar approach to the one in this article may be feasible for other countries
in order to analyse their wood consumption and to find out how these countries
could achieve a more sustainable use.
The chances for the implementation of the measures which have been identified
may increase if it is possible to better correlate the measures with different
(end)users. Therefore, it is desirable to have better quantitative data on the present
(end)use of wood derived products by different user categories.
This research has been focusing on the technical opportunities to come to a more
sustainable use of wood in the Netherlands. Research related to the social,
economic and political factors that influence the wood consumption is considered
to be a worthwhile supplement.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge Prof. Dr. L. Reijnders for his valuable
comments on the concept of this paper, the World Wide Fund for Nature in the
Netherlands who has supported the research which has preceded this article
financially and the NWO-research programme for sustainability and environmental
quality who has partly financed the establishment of this article. The research study
on which this article is based has led to the publication of the report 'Sustainable
use of wood in the Netherlands' (published in Dutch 'Verantwoord gebruik van
hout in Nederland', IVAM Environmental Research no. 08, 1994).
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