Based on an analysis of existing bioeconomy modelling capacities, some gaps have been identified in existing bioeconomy modelling capacities to represent the development of bio-based materials. To address these gaps, the BioMonitor Model Toolbox has been designed. This report documents improvements made to two of the models included in the Toolbox, which focus on market developments of bio-based chemical applications and new wood-based applications. Part I of this report presents the new BioMAT model that has been developed to close the gaps on bio-based chemical applications. Part II is devoted to the EFI-GTM model that has been extended with new wood-based products and updated to capture structural changes in markets of traditional wood products.

Forests store carbon in biomass and soil and when harvested, part of the carbon is stored in wood products. These products may substitute functionally similar products made from more emission-intensive materials. We reviewed the existing literature to update and improve the understanding of the climate effects of substituting wood products. We conducted a systematic review covering over 50 studies and yielding over 400 substitution factors. Most studies focused on North America and the Nordic countries in Europe with only few studies from other regions. Most of the substitution factors related to construction materials, and substantially fewer substitution factors were available for other product types (furniture, packaging, and textiles) and even fewer for paper and chemicals. Overall, the reviewed studies suggest an average substitution effect of 1.2 kg C / kg C, which means that per kilogram of wood products that substitute non-wood products, there occurs an average emission reduction of 2.2 kg CO2. However, the substitution effects vary significantly, depending on the wood and non-wood products considered and the assumptions applied to estimate emissions. We conclude that the use of wood products is generally associated with lower fossil and process-based emissions, compared to non-wood products. However, substitution factors as such are not sufficient to guide policy-making. The fundamental aim should be to minimize emissions, through forest management activities, long-term storage of C in wood products and substituting emission-intensive materials. Resource-efficiency and minimizing material waste for both wood and non-wood based products should be simultaneous policy targets for climate change mitigation.

A large and growing number of EU and national policies draw on, or affect directly and indirectly, Europe’s forests, including their ecosystems. Hence, there is a need for improved efforts to provide up-to-date assessments of the condition of European forests. The Forest Information System for Europe (FISE) is launched to respond to this need. This report shows the content developed for the FISE platform in the form of mock-ups.