Life Timber for all
Decarbonization of Concrete Structures through Carbon Storage in Mixed Timber–Concrete Structural Systems for Sustainable Industrialized Architecture in the New European Bauhaus
Period: 2025–2029
Budget: Part of the EU LIFE Climate Change Mitigation Programme, with a total budget of €3.27 million, funded by the European Commission through the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
Consortium:
- PEMADE – University of Santiago de Compostela (Coordinator)
- Grupo Rodiñas
- Xilonor
- 3edata
- University of Granada
- Institut de Tecnologia de la Construcció de Catalunya
- Institut d’Arquitectura Avançada de Catalunya
- Clúster da Madeira e Deseño de Galicia
- Fundación Galicia Constrúe (Construction Cluster)
- Axencia Galega da Industria Forestal (XERA)
Project Overview:
LIFE TIMBER FOR ALL aims to integrate sustainable, industrialized timber in all buildings to balance concrete and timber, harmonizing both materials, storing carbon long-term, and reducing overall concrete and steel use (and associated GHG emissions). Hybrid systems are intended to provide optimal solutions for constructions where timber alone is currently unfeasible, while also reducing costs compared to timber-only solutions. The project also explores decarbonizing concrete using biomass ash.
The project will develop a family of timber–concrete composite structural systems (ROD-TCC), along with complementary measures to overcome barriers and promote timber construction:
- Certification of system performance and carbon storage.
- A digital product passport for transparency, proving local timber origin and sustainable forest management.
- Application of New European Bauhaus principles to ensure timber is beautiful, sustainable, and accessible to communities.
- Commercialization and dissemination to promote replicability and project impact.
Project outcomes will be demonstrated in a showcase building integrating ROD-TCC systems and NEB principles—the first of many steps toward sustainable industrialized construction for all.
Expected results:
- Development of 4 ROD-TCC mixed timber–concrete structural systems and 1 replicated system in Andalusia: IB-Compact.
- Creation of low-carbon concrete (with biomass ash) for structural use.
- Publication of the EAD (European Assessment Document) for TCC timber–concrete composite systems, and obtaining CE marking and EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) for Rod-Compact and Rod-Alveo.
- Implementation of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) for ROD-TCC systems, integrating timber traceability.
- Generation of a Construction and Building Carbon Methodology, integrated into Galicia’s voluntary carbon credit system.
- Development of an NEB methodology applicable to product and building design.
- Creation of a public and private green procurement guide and protocols for timber construction.
- Construction of a LIFE TIMBER FOR ALL demonstration building.