Jami Järvinen: New Opportunities for Low-Carbon Construction Through Wood Fibre Insulation

Climate and energy targets in the building sector are increasing the demand for low-carbon building materials and energy-efficient construction solutions. At the same time, interest in bio-based materials has grown as part of broader efforts to reduce life-cycle emissions and the use of non-renewable natural resources in construction. Wood fibre insulation (WFI) represents one potential solution, as it enables the utilisation of forest industry side streams, such as sawdust and wood shavings, while also supporting energy-efficient buildings and the use of carbon-storing materials. However, the adoption of WFI remains limited in many countries, and its wider implementation is influenced not only by technical performance but also by regulatory frameworks, construction systems, and market structures.

This article-based doctoral dissertation examines the potential of wood fibre insulation as part of the transition toward low-carbon construction. The study aims to analyse the system-level factors that enable or constrain the adoption of WFI in different construction markets, as well as to evaluate its economic and environmental implications. The research combines qualitative and quantitative methods and consists of three interconnected sub-studies.

The first sub-study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of WFI in the European construction sector through expert interviews. Particular attention is given to the role of building regulations, fire safety requirements, technical assessment methods, and established construction practices. The second sub-study evaluates the market potential of WFI and the value-added implications of utilising forest industry side streams for material production in a comparative case study of Finland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The third sub-study examines the environmental impacts and emission reduction potential of WFI through comparative life-cycle assessment in relation to conventional insulation materials.

The dissertation provides new knowledge on how regulation, construction practices, building stock structure, and material flows together shape the adoption potential of bio-based insulation materials. In addition, the study explores how forest industry side streams currently used for energy production could be redirected toward higher value-added material applications without increasing harvesting volumes. The findings contribute to the development of low-carbon construction and support the wider utilisation of bio-based building materials as part of a more sustainable built environment.