O Paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum) é uma espécie nativa do Brasil com ampla distribuição geográfica. Sua plantação e utilização estão em constante crescimento, devido às características apresentadas pela espécie. A principal utilização da madeira de Paricá tem sido a fabricação de lâminas de compensados. Entretanto, esses painéis experimentam redução de oferta, devido sua substituição por OSB. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal avaliar a viabilidade técnica de produção de painéis OSB fabricados com partículas de madeira da espécie Schizolobium amazonicum e resina poliuretana à base de óleo de mamona. Com a finalidade de proporcionar maior durabilidade e qualidade a estes painéis, também foi avaliada a influência do tratamento das partículas com preservante CCA e CCB e a variação de três teores de adesivo (8, 10 e 12%). O desempenho dos painéis para as propriedades de inchamento em espessura e absorção de água após períodos de 2 e 24 horas de imersão, módulo de elasticidade (MOE) e módulo de ruptura (MOR) para as direções paralela e perpendicular à orientação das partículas e adesão interna, foram avaliados segundo o documento normativo europeu EN 300 (2006). A resistência ao arrancamento de parafuso de face e de topo foi investigada de acordo com a norma brasileira ABNT NBR 14810-2 (2006). Os resultados apontaram excelentes propriedades físico-mecânicas para os painéis OSB produzidos neste estudo, quando comparados com os valores mínimos recomendados pelas normas citadas e com os valores encontrados na literatura, para painéis desta natureza com finalidades comerciais. Desta maneira ficou comprovada a viabilidade da utilização da espécie Paricá, quando tratada com preservantes CCA e CCB, e quando utilizada \"in natura\", juntamente com a resina poliuretana à base de óleo de mamona na fabricação de painéis OSB. / Paricá (Schizolobium amazonicum) is a Brazilian native wood specie, with wide geographic distribution. Their plantation and utilization are constantly growing due to the features presented by the specie. Primary use of wood has been in manufacture of plywood sheets. However, these panels present a gradual offer reduction, being replaced by OSB. This study aimed to assess the technical feasibility of producing OSB, using Paricá particles and castor oil based polyurethane resin. With the purpose of improve durability and quality of these panels, effect of treating the particles with preservative CCA and CCB and the variation of three levels of adhesive (8%, 10% and 12%) were also evaluated. OSB performance in thickness swelling and water absorption after periods of 2 to 24 hours of immersion, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), directions parallel and perpendicular to the particles orientation and internal bonding were evaluated according to the European normative document EN 300 (2006). Pullout strength of the screw (face and top) was investigated according to norm ABNT NBR 14810 (2006). The results showed excellent physical and mechanical properties for the OSB produced in this study, when compared with the minimum recommended by the standards and the values cited in the literature, such panels for commercial purposes. Thus it was proved the feasibility of using Paricá specie when treated with preservatives CCA and CCB, and when used \"in natura\" with castor-oil based polyurethane resin in OSB production.

Engineered wood I-joists have grown in popularity as flooring and roofing structural systems in the past 30 years, replacing solid sawn lumber joists. Typical wood I-joists are manufactured with a very slender section, which is desirable to achieve higher flexural capacities and longer spans; however, this makes them susceptible to lateral torsional buckling failure. Continuous beam spans and uplift forces on roof uplift are potential scenarios where lateral instability can occur and reflects the need to investigate the lateral torsional buckling behavior of wood I-joists. Within this context, the present study conducts an experimental investigation on the material properties and the critical buckling load of 42 wood I-joist specimens. A 3D finite element model is built using the experimentally determined material parameters to effectively predict the observed buckling behavior of the specimens while also accounting for initial imperfections in the joists. The adequacy of other analytical models to predict the critical buckling load of wood I-joists are also investigated. It is demonstrated that the American design standard underestimates the critical buckling load of wood I-joists while the classical theory provides an adequate estimate of the buckling capacity. Furthermore, the effects of initial imperfections on the lateral torsional buckling behavior are discussed. The developed and verified FE model is used to reproduce the nonlinear buckling behavior of the wood I-joist and also to provide an accurate estimate of the lateral torsional buckling capacity using the linear buckling analysis.

Economic analysis investigates certain economic subject by using variety of different economic and mathematical-statistical methods and procedures. In the present work we perform economic analysis of wood producing company Dřevoterm, s.r.o. for the years from 2007 to 2011 based on externally available data. From approaches of economic analysis we use methods of financial analysis including analysis of absolute and relative financial ratios, pyramidal decomposition of financial ratios and global indexes of financial health. Further we analyze net working capital, costs and stocks of the company in detail. Obtained results are discussed in context of theoretically optimum values, average results of the whole wood producing industry and external factors which influenced analyzed company during past years. The results show that despite growing revenues of the company the majority of calculated indicators scored with a worsening trend and the company should focus primarily on reducing cost of revenues.

The majority of the people in sub-Saharan Africa depend on natural and planted forests for subsistence use and income generation. Despite this, the status of forests and wood-processing industries and their multiple uses are poorly understood. In Ethiopia information on the status and contribution of the forest and wood-processing industries to economic development is scanty and fragmented. The study was designed to contribute to filling this gap by analysing the status of the forest resource, assessing the contribution of the forest and wood-processing industries to the national economy with emphasis on the cost structure, and identifying innovations in the wood-processing industries. The study was further developed scenarios to upgrade wood product supply in Ethiopia. The study focuses on the macro-level analysis complementing same with micro-level data that looks into wood-processing industries of the country. Cluster analysis and innovation systems are frameworks employed in collecting and analysing both primary and secondary data. Secondary data on forests in Ethiopia are generally lacking. The analysis was conducted using data from 2010 as the reference year. The year 2010 was chosen as it is the only year for which the most recent aggregated social accounting matrix table for Ethiopia was available. Primary data were collected from key informant interviews and by undertaking survey in selected wood processing industries. A consultation workshop was conducted with different stakeholders to develop alternative scenarios regarding options to meet national wood demands and to share and validate findings of the study. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means, and percentages. The qualitative information gathered was summarised, analysed, and interpreted in the form of narratives. The study covered the six major forest types in Ethiopia from which significant wood volume is collected. The volume of wood reported to be harvested from these forests exceeded the annual incremental yield, indicating widening of the gap between supply and demand over time. The estimated wood product gap was 39 million m³ in 2013. The expanding gap between supply and demand of wood products in Ethiopia led to rapid increment in the volume of wood products imported, from 17,750 m3 in 1997 to 128,914 m3 in 2017. The estimated economic contribution of the forest sector and wood-processing industries in 2010 to the GDP was 4.2% and 0.036%, respectively. Regarding labour composition, both forest and wood-processing industries are dependent on unskilled labour with the respective share of 44.6% and 40.4%. The results also show that the forest sector has a strong linkage with the domestic economy, with 99.95% share as the input source. Wood-processing industries are mainly dependent on imported raw materials with a share of 51.6% of inputs. If the multiplier effect of the forest sector is considered, its contribution to the GDP could increase by up to 72%. Thus, a unit increment in the forest and wood-processing industries will have a multiplier effect on household income by 1.35 and 0.43, respectively. It is the non-poor households in small urban settlements that would benefit more in both cases. The strong forward and backward linkages of the forest sector indicated the potential of forests to support the national economic development as compared to the wood processing industries that showed a weak backward linkage due to its dependency on imported raw material, high price of round wood from domestic markets, and underdevelopment of plantation forestry in Ethiopia. Production factors related and supporting sectors, and government supports were found to be the constraining factors that affect the competitiveness of studied wood processing industries. The demand for wood products has a positive influence on the competitiveness of wood processing industries. The cost structure analysis showed variations with the types of wood processing industries. Raw material was the main input cost for the Ethiopian Chip Wood and Furniture Company (43%), and Ethiopian Plywood Enterprise (51%), while the overhead cost was the main costs (76%) for the Arsi Negelle sawmill. Imported chemicals raised the cost of the studied panel industries. However, the Arsi Negelle sawmill incurs a relatively low cost for raw material. This is because the Arsi Negelle sawmill uses its own plantations nearby the industry, which reduces the transportation cost. The analysis of sectoral innovation system actors indicated weak implementation of the expected roles. They are also poorly networked with the wood-processing industries. The identified constraining factors for innovation activities also include out-dated machines, lack of incentives for the employees, limited skilled manpower, insufficient financial resources, and inadequacy in research and development. Innovation activities identified are processing and marketing innovations in Maichew particleboard and Mitike sawmill, respectively. The introduction of innovation contributed to increasing the number of customers, revenue generated, jobs created, and volume of products sold. More innovation activities were identified in privately owned than in state-owned factories. Three scenarios were developed in identifying and examining prevailing options to reduce the gap between supply and demand of wood products in the country. These are business-as-usual, the government plan, and the independent experts’ opinion scenarios. The business-as-usual scenario assumes that no major change will happen in the forest sector. This scenario assumed that the main problems remain the same and the supply-demand gap will widen using the current trend. The government plan scenario assumes that the country will build a climate-resilient green economy by 2030 as envisages in its CRGE strategy issued in 2011. In this scenario, significant investment is expected to reduce the gap. Official records show that between 2016 and 2019, the production of wood products increased and reached 8,703,439 m³ and revenue collection grew to 9,352,816 USD. Despite this, supply-demand gap continued to widen, resulting in increased importation of various wood products. The independent experts’ scenario was developed based on the assessment of the unsustainability of the first scenario and the ambitious and unrealistic goals of the second scenario. The scenario of experts considered factors that will improve or undermine production and productivity of forests and meet demands for biomass fuel, industrial wood, and small diameter poles. As per this scenario, sustainable wood product supply is expected to increase and imports to be reduced by 20% in the coming decade. Scenarios developed provided insights for policymakers and suggested the need for strategic planning for developing forest resources and wood industries in the country. Measures to transform the forest sector and wood processing industries of Ethiopia need to consider their contribution and multiplier effects to the national economy. Regarding theoretical aspects, the thesis demonstrated there are some limitations associated with Social Accounting Matrix data quality, which limits the ability to interpret the forward and backward linkages. Yet, the analysis revealed that there is weak cooperation among innovation systems actors to work together. The study hopes to form the basis for further studies and proposed areas for future research to improve the economic contribution of forests and wood processing industries to the national economy.:1 Introduction 2 Theoretical concepts and analytical framework 3 Methodological framework 4 Overview of the forestry sector and its contribution to the national economy 5 Competitiveness and cost structure analysis of wood-processing industries in Ethiopia 6 Innovation system and innovations in the wood-processing industries of Ethiopia 7 Scenario development to upgrade the wood product supply in Ethiopia 8 Synthesis and conclusion References

The concept of the Circular Economy (CE) is proposed as a viable solution to the over-exploitation of natural resources with an economic and environmental backing. Although more commonly used in the context of non-renewable industrial materials and processes, there is a growing need to include these concepts into renewable materials that have technical functions. This thesis will discuss the concepts of CE in the context of the wooden furniture sector and how the inclusion of Value Retention Processes (VRPs) and other CE practices result in quantifiable environmental and economic benefits. Companies that are involved in these VRPs are consulted through a questionnaire. This is to better understand the process and limits of their implementations. The issue of furniture waste is highlighted to demonstrate the need for circularity in this industry and how it fits within the context of CE. A case study is conducted utilizing three comparable furniture products to populate the data needed to utilize an established CE model showcasing their quantifiable benefits (IRP, 2018). This research will lead to a basis for continued research, improvements to current CE models, and suggestions for best practices that can be implemented by industry stakeholders and consumers. The results of the company questionnaire showcase that a viable VRP market exists for the wooden furniture industry, with “Reuse” being the most utilized by consumers. The outputs of the CE model revealed that the inclusion of VRPs results in significant decreases in environmental impacts when compared with new product manufacturing.

After timber harvesting, carbon in wood is transferred to products pool and remains entrapped for a considerable time. It is necessary to estimate this carbon flux in the harvested wood products (HWP); otherwise, carbon emission estimates of a country will be overestimated at the time of harvest. Furthermore, carbon estimates of the HWP must be assessed for uncertainties which need to be reduced as far as possible. Environmental implications might be associated with the HWP traded in the national and international markets. In the current context, there is a lack of economic-environmental studies that relate to the trade of HWP. The first part of this dissertation estimated the U.S. HWP contribution to carbon removals or emissions from 1990 to 2014 using the stock-change, production, atmospheric flow, and simple decay approaches. It concluded that the U.S. HWP stored carbon under all accounting approaches. Net annual carbon stored in the HWP, however, declined under all approaches from 1990 to 2014. The second part of the dissertation investigated uncertainty in the estimates of carbon stock in HWP using Monte Carlo simulation. A sensitivity analysis was also performed. Results showed that the net annual carbon accumulation in HWP was affected by uncertainty associated with input parameters. Carbon estimates in the HWP were most sensitive to uncertainty in the parameter for the carbon conversion factor for roundwood. The third part of the dissertation used a multi-regional input-output model to analyze embodied carbon emissions in the U.S. trade of HWP with its major trading partners – Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and Russia. Results demonstrated that the U.S. was a net importer of carbon emissions involving HWP. China was the major contributor of imported emissions, and Canada was the biggest recipient of the U.S. exported emissions. The consumption-based method had a higher emissions inventory in the HWP than the production-based method. Per-capita emissions in the HWP increased with an increase in per-capita GDP. These studies can be informative for policy makers in incorporating HWP in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, and in understanding the economic-environmental relationships of international trade of HWP.

Reclaimed wood is material salvaged from old, abandoned buildings that offers sustainable living to communities. There have been previous studies on reclaimed wood, but a limited amount linking reclaimed wood to consumerism. In August 2021, an online survey was conducted to gauge consumers’ knowledge of the industry and attitudes on reclaimed wood practices. Consumers are U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older. Study results indicate that respondents have little knowledge regarding reclaimed wood. Of the 1,516 respondents, 44% seem knowledgeable of reclaimed wood. Most respondents are not aware that reclaimed wood is a separate industry. Respondents believe there should be better marketing practices. Respondents also believe reclaimed wood to be environmentally friendly, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. The reasons respondents would purchase reclaimed wood are sustainability, aesthetics, and to exercise a need. Respondents acknowledge the importance of the origin of wood products. Respondents also acknowledge the importance of the industry.

Over the past few decades, university level US Forestry and Wood Science and Technology programs have faced declining enrollment. As a result, the seeming disinterest of younger generations has impacted employment in these sectors. In an attempt to bridge the communication gap among colleges/industries, this study was created to attract the interest and maintain the enthusiasm of new generations of professionals and currently enrolled college students in the United States. In September 2021, an online survey was created and distributed to over 1500 alumni and students and received 1,495 usable surveys. Analysis performed on the resultant data included descriptive statistics and chi-square calculations. Although the study results indicate that the current generation of students and professionals appear to have basic knowledge surrounding the forestry and wood products/science industries, they showed a lack of awareness of the available careers linked to the sector.

The wood products industry faces increased pressure to attract and maintain the interest of young audiences, such as the millennial generation. This study was created in attempt to bridge the perceived communication gap between the industry and millennial generation, or “millennials.” Millennials are defined in this study as individuals born from 1980 to 2000. An online survey was created and distributed to over 1500 millennials in February 2018 and received 1,479 usable surveys. Analysis performed on the resultant data included descriptive statistics and chi-square calculations. The study results indicate millennials have a positive view of wood products and hold uncertain or neutral perceptions towards the entire industry. Millennials perceive wood products as stylish, durable, and environmentally friendly. Millennials have neutral perceptions of the industry with stronger attitudes towards the industry’s relationship with the environment. Millennial responses also indicate weak general knowledge regarding the wood products industry and wood product properties.

Companies in the construction industry have a wide range of choices of suppliers for the company's needs in building materials. Local (in-state) suppliers within key southern states have issues gaining market share within the construction sectors. Construction companies often outsource their purchase of wood products from a different state or country, which adversely affects the local economy due to not purchasing from in-state or local wood product suppliers. Construction companies are often not aware of local suppliers due to lack of resources or general lack of knowledge. The primary research question of this thesis is: can construction company procurement decisions and supplier selection methods help local wood product suppliers gain more market share within the construction industry? Companies within the states of Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia were interviewed over the phone and in person to determine how the companies choose the wood product suppliers and what factors impact the purchasing decisions. Key factors included: cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, location, relationship, and payment options. A survey of construction companies was created and conducted after the interviews were concluded. Important factors highlighted by the survey responses included: cost, quality, relationship, and lead time in choosing a supplier. Suppliers were asked to differentiate their products using information the construction companies highlighted as factors they emphasized. Construction companies offered insight into how they purchase wood products, the factors they desire in their suppliers, and how often they purchase in-state. In-state wood product suppliers have an opportunity to gain market share within the construction industry using the factors those construction companies favored in interviews and survey results. / Master of Science / Companies in the construction industry have a wide range of choices of suppliers for the company's needs in building materials. Local (in-state) suppliers within key southern states have issues gaining market share within the construction sectors. Construction companies often outsource their purchase of wood products from a different state or country, which adversely affects the local economy due to not purchasing from in-state or local wood product suppliers. Companies within the states of Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia were interviewed over the phone and in person to determine how the companies choose the wood product suppliers and what factors impact the purchasing decisions. Key factors included: cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, location, relationship, and payment options. A survey of construction companies was created and conducted after the interviews were concluded. Important factors highlighted by the survey responses included: cost, quality, relationship, and lead time in choosing a supplier. Suppliers were asked to differentiate their products using information the construction companies highlighted as factors they emphasized. In-state wood product suppliers have an opportunity to gain market share within the construction industry using the factors those construction companies favored in interviews and survey results.