Urban Evolutions Blog

Embodied carbon refers to the emissions created during the manufacturing, transportation, and installation of building materials. Reducing embodied carbon is essential in the fight to manage global warming. Wood offers a powerful solution for embodied carbon reduction, especially when paired with low-carbon manufacturing and responsible regional sourcing.

Wood is a powerful material that, when properly managed, offers numerous benefits as a renewable resource and carbon sink. Responsibly sourced wood supports biodiversity by encouraging diverse forest management practices, which help protect watersheds, soil health, and wildlife habitats. As a sustainable wood products manufacturer, we have a responsibility to intentionally source from lumber producers that promote the ecological health of our rural and urban forests and their surrounding communities. The Ecosystem Health impact area of the Common Materials Framework focuses on the impact a product’s life cycle has on the environment during material harvesting, manufacturing, and product use.

Construction and manufacturing sectors are associated with elevated risks of unfair labor practices and health hazards that often disproportionately affect workers and nearby communities. Addressing social health and equity in the built environment requires building products and supply chains that support fair labor conditions, economic opportunity, and long-term community well-being—not just environmental performance.