State-of-the-art of waste wood supply chain in Germany and selected European countries

The definition of waste wood categories is not the same across European countries.

“It is important to consider that also the definition of waste wood categories is not the same across the European countries.”

Finnish classification is similar to the British one, but with some limitations for the energy use of these materials.

“Finnish classification is similar to the British one, but with some limitations for the energy use of these materials [14].”

Countries such as Finland, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom have defined quality indicators for the classification of waste wood in several categories based on quality and related applications.

“Countries such as Finland, Italy, Germany and United Kingdom have defined the quality indicators for the classification of waste wood in several categories on the basis of their quality and related applications [14].”

Not all AI and AII wood is destined to material use but is often sent to incineration facilities, since the legislative requirement for these categories leaves this option open despite the suitability of material use.

“In fact, not all the AI and AII wood is destined to material use but is often sent to incineration facilities, since the legislative requirement for these categories leaves this option open despite the suitability of material use (Garcia and Hora, 2017).”

The prioritization of the conversion of wood into energy and the respective policy instruments cause a greater profitability for thermal energy conversion, thus incentivizing waste wood collectors to sell their products to energy conversion facilities instead of re-entering them into the cascading chain.

“The prioritization of the conversion of wood into energy and the respective policy instruments cause a greater profitability for thermal energy conversion, thus incentivizing waste wood collectors to sell their products to energy conversion facilities instead of re-entering them into the cascading chain (Garcia and Hora, 2017).”

The prioritization of the energy conversion of wood is addressed by several scholars, who highlight the existence of incentives to energy production as one of the key factors currently limiting the potential of cascading.

“The prioritization of the energy conversion of wood is addressed by several scholars, who highlight the existence of incentives to energy production as one of the key factors that are currently limiting the potential of cascading (Bergeron, 2014;Garcia and Hora, 2017;Husgafvel et al., 2018;Keegan et al., 2013;Sikkema et al., 2013).”

Logistics is a factor that limits the implementation of cascading practices due to the difficulty and economic expenses related to collection and transportation of waste wood.

“In particular, Garcia and Hora (2017), Keegan et al. (2013) and Taskhiri et al. (2016) name logistics as a factor that limits the implementation of cascading practices due to the sheer difficulty and economic expenses related to the collection of waste wood and its transportation from a collection site to a recycling facility and then, to a distribution network.”