Stora Enso Launches Digital CoE

Stora Enso, a provider of renewable solutions in wooden construction, packaging, biomaterials and paper, has launched a new digital centre of excellence, the Wood House Effect.

The content hub aims to provide construction professionals with a resource centre of insights, research and expertise that uncovers the possibilities wood presents as a building material and how it can play a role in a more sustainable future for both the industry and the world.

Construction materials currently account for 11% of global C0₂ emissions; to help mitigate the climate crisis, this must be reduced. However, at the same time, global housing demands are expected to double by 2060. The industry needs a new approach to materials, with wood being an obvious part of the solution.

Grown in sustainably managed forests, engineered wood elements represent a less carbon-intensive material than concrete or steel, whilst also making buildings healthier places to live and work in.

Lars Völkel, Executive Vice President Stora Enso Wood Products, said: “It’s important that everyone understands that in this critical period of history, there is a raw material that can make a genuine difference. Innovative solutions and new technologies allow wood to replace concrete and steel not only in one- or two-storey homes but also in multi-storey residential, public and commercial buildings. Today, we can build higher, stronger and lighter than ever before.

“Compared to the traditional construction processes with concrete and steel, we can reduce up to 75% of CO₂ emissions when building with wood. And by leveraging the opportunities of digital planning and construction tools and increased levels of prefabrication, we can substantially reduce overall construction cycle times and costs whilst achieving higher quality standards, too.”

Studies have shown that people in wooden buildings have lower stress levels, increased productivity, and higher creativity. This can partly be explained by better air quality and acoustics but also by what’s known as biophilic design – humans’ desire to be connected with the natural environment. When nearly 90% of peoples’ time is spent indoors, choosing the right materials makes a big difference.

If you would like to read more stories like this, then please click here