The world-leading environmental credentials of Accoya® wood have been further boosted through publication of an independent carbon footprint report.
Updated cradle-to-gate analysis of the revolutionary modified wood by leading climate change consultancy Verco has shown that Accoya’s carbon footprint significantly outperforms most other building materials, including even a wide range of sustainably- sourced hardwoods.
Verco’s carbon footprint update follows an exhaustive cradle-to-gate analysis undertaken in 2009. Since then, the report noted that Accoya’s manufacturer, Accsys Technologies, has made significant progress in “updating a range of production parameters in a continuing improvement of environmental and overall performance”.
Most significantly, the current environmental impact of Accoya’s production process was set against that of other popular construction materials such as concrete, PVC, steel, aluminum, MDF and plywood as well as a range of sustainably-sourced hardwoods such as azobe and red meranti. Results showed that Accoya’s carbon footprint outperformed these materials based on wood-sourcing options currently available.
Verco also analyzed the potential full life span impact of Accoya on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. the report noted that Accoya’s high strength-to-weight ratio, its low maintenance requirements, combined with its increased carbon sink potential through increased durability and good recyclability during end-of-life could provide even additional environmental benefits to Accoya.Accoya Window Frames now classified as carbon negative over full life cycle.Subsequent carbon footprint analysis by the Delft University of technology on a cradle-to-grave basis took these life cycle aspects into account and revealed that Accoya window frames are co2 negative over the full life cycle of the product, mainly thanks to the limited emissions during production and benefits gained from carbon sequestration during the considerable life span of the durable acetylated wood.
Full report is available at