TREEO Cooling the planet, Transsolar KlimaEngineering and DGNB German Sustainable Building Council hosted an interactive workshop to discuss the current state and future of carbon storage in the construction sector. Stakeholders from across the timber value chain—regulatory bodies, standard owners, dMRV providers, and implementers—came together to exchange perspectives and improve carbon credit systems.
Do you know?
Timber buildings can store carbon for decades, making them a crucial part of climate-friendly construction! However, tracking this storage from tree growth to building materials remains a challenge.
Key Takeaways from the Workshop
TREEO’s Approach: From Monitoring to Impact
TREEO showcased current single-tree monitoring technology to track carbon sequestration and discussed the need to extend tracking across the entire timber lifecycle: harvesting, processing, and installation in buildings. The workshop also explored how residual biomass can be repurposed into high-value products like biochar, insulation materials, and pellets. A case study from Uganda’s Timber Innovation Centre illustrated how LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) helps measure biogenic carbon storage and GWP emissions.
DGNB’s Perspective on LCA & Carbon Credits
The DGNB certification system promotes GHG reduction and climate-neutral building operations, but is not yet aligned with carbon credit systems. However, upcoming regulations and better data availability may change this. DGNB is working on enhancing LCA processes to support carbon credit frameworks in the future.
CSI’s Insights on the Construction Carbon Sink Standard
Carbon Standards International AG (CSI) recently introduced the Construction-C-Sink standards, which are currently in public review. These standards focus on practical implementation and supply chain monitoring. CSI is also partnering with Openly to develop pilot projects using material passports to track carbon impact.
Sphera’s (LCA Software Solutions) View on Upcoming Norms in Germany
Sphera emphasized the importance of LCA in generating credible Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These declarations must consider biogenic, fossil, and land-use change GWP. While carbon offsetting is not yet part of the product system under review, biogenic carbon may be recognized—except when sourced from native forests.
What’s Next?
• Developing pilot project proposals with DGNB
• Evaluating new buildings based on material sources
• Advancing material passports for better traceability
• Monitoring GWP emissions & biogenic carbon storage to support DGNB’s evolving standards and potential EU regulations.
Collaboration is key! Let's shape a future where timber construction actively contributes to carbon storage.