Which is the More Sustainable Building Material – Wood or Steel?
According to certain “studies,” wood claims a smaller environmental footprint than any other major building material. However, a closer look at the facts reveals some significant inconsistencies with that claim.
MYTH: Studies demonstrate that wood is a more sustainable material than steel.
REALITY: The most-cited study contained numerous incorrect assumptions about steel, and it omitted wood impacts. A study cited often by the wood industry was published by the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) and is based on outdated information. For example, it made incorrect assumptions about the quantity of steel needed for its comparisons.
