Addressing embodied carbon in real estate – which represents around 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions – is critical. Unlike green steel and cement, which face significant cost and technological barriers, timber has emerged as a mature and comparatively market-ready solution for reducing embodied carbon in construction, especially in the near-to-mid-term.
To understand investor perceptions on timber and to identify what is needed to boost confidence in its use, we conducted a series of interviews with real estate investors, developers, and investor networks and organisations across the UK, Europe, and North America.
This report highlights the key findings from these interviews, including factors influencing investor decision-making on embodied carbon, and the main benefits and challenges identified by investors on the use of timber specifically. The report concludes with a set of recommendations and next steps to help scale demand for sustainable timber in the real estate market.
