Decarbonisation of Concrete Structures through Carbon Storage in Timber-Concrete Hybrid Structural Systems for Sustainable Industrialised Architecture within the New European Bauhaus
- Project reference: LIFE24-CCM-ES-LIFE-TIMBER-FOR-ALL/101213433
- Project acronym: LIFE24-CCM-ES-LIFE TIMBER FOR ALL
- Duration: 01/09/2025 to 30/09/2029
- Total budget: €3,269,514
- EU contribution: €1,961,708
- More information: life public database
What is Life Timber for all?
Buildings account for one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This highlights the urgent need to decarbonise the construction sector, where concrete has historically been the dominant material due to its good properties, but is also responsible for 8% of global emissions. In this context, the role of timber in construction is increasing. However, despite recent advances and EU policy support, significant barriers still hinder its large-scale adoption.
LIFE TIMBER FOR ALL aims to ensure that all buildings incorporate sustainable and industrialised timber to achieve a balance between concrete and timber, harmonising both materials while storing carbon long-term and reducing the overall amount of concrete and steel (and associated GHG emissions). Through hybridisation, the project seeks to enable optimal solutions for all types of buildings, especially those where timber alone is currently not viable, and to reduce costs compared to timber-only solutions. It also aims to decarbonise concrete through the use of biomass ash.
To address this challenge, a family of timber-concrete composite structural systems (ROD-TCC) will be developed, along with measures to overcome barriers and promote timber construction, including: certification of system performance and stored carbon; a Digital Product Passport (DPP) to ensure transparency and verify local timber origin and sustainable forest management; implementation of the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) to make beautiful and sustainable timber accessible to all and inclusive of local communities; and commercialisation and promotion actions to enhance replicability and maximise project impact.
Project results will be showcased in a demonstration building integrating ROD-TCC systems and NEB principles — the first of many needed to achieve sustainable industrialised construction for all.
Objectives
- Generate low-carbon structural concrete using ash derived from energy production with residues from sustainably managed certified forests.
- Develop hybrid timber-concrete structural systems (ROD-TCC) that create durable bio-based products for long-term carbon sequestration, decarbonising the concrete sector with a recyclability and industrialised construction perspective.
- Optimise structural system performance to overcome technical barriers to timber adoption, ensuring compliance with fire resistance, acoustic insulation and hygrothermal performance standards.
- Certify the structural systems for EU use and replicability, ensuring traceability, sustainable local timber origin, cradle-to-cradle carbon footprint calculation and long-term carbon storage.
- Contribute to the implementation of the New European Bauhaus and Green Public Procurement of structural timber in public and private construction.
- Reach the market by overcoming economic and perception barriers to timber adoption.
- Multiply impact across political, social, environmental and economic domains.
- Effectively disseminate project results and the LIFE programme.
Actions
- Project management and coordination:
Coordinates the technical, administrative and financial aspects of the project, ensuring compliance with deadlines and objectives. - Development of low-carbon concrete using biomass combustion ash:
Focuses on creating low-carbon concrete by incorporating biomass ash as a supplementary cementitious material and aggregate substitute for structural use in ROD-TCC systems. - Development of a family of ROD-TCC structural systems for small, medium and large spans:
Develops four hybrid timber-concrete structural systems (Rod-Compact, Rod-Alveo, Rod-Box and Rod-BoxTens) covering spans from 4 to 18 metres, optimising their structural design and the recyclability of their joints. - Optimised constructive solutions for acoustic insulation, thermal performance and fire behaviour:
Assesses and optimises the performance of ROD-TCC systems in terms of acoustic insulation, hygrothermal behaviour and fire resistance to overcome technical barriers. - Certification and validation of structural systems:
Manages the acquisition of European certifications (CE Marking, EAD, ETA, EPD) for Rod-Compact and Rod-Alveo, implements a Digital Product Passport (DPP), and develops a methodology for generating carbon credits. - Implementation of sustainable timber construction through the New European Bauhaus and Green Public Procurement. Demonstration building:
Adapts and implements a NEB methodology for timber construction in Spain, integrating green procurement strategies, and applies these principles to the ROD-TCC systems and a demonstration building. - Sustainability, replicability and exploitation of project results:
Develops and implements business and replication strategies, including the After-LIFE plan and replication of the Rod-Compact system in Andalusia (IB-Compact). - Dissemination, communication and networking with other projects:
Promotes the project and its results through communication, awareness-raising and networking activities with other initiatives, aiming to expand its reach and impact. - Monitoring and evaluation of project impact:
Quantifies and evaluates the environmental, social and economic impact and contribution of the project.
- WP1 Project coordination and management
- WP2 Development of low-carbon concrete using biomass combustion ash
- WP3 Development of a family of hybrid timber-concrete structural systems for small, medium and large spans
- WP4 Optimised constructive solutions in terms of acoustic insulation, thermal performance and fire behaviour
- WP5 Certification and validation of structural systems
- WP6 Implementation of sustainable timber construction through the New European Bauhaus and Green Public Procurement. Demonstration building
- WP7 Sustainability, replicability and exploitation of project results
- WP8 Dissemination, communication and networking with other projects
- WP9 Monitoring and evaluation of project impact
Expected Results
The project is part of the LIFE Programme of the European Union for Climate Change Mitigation, with a total budget of €3.27 million, funded by the European Commission through the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
- Development of four hybrid timber-concrete structural systems (ROD-TCC) and one replicated system in Andalusia (IB-Compact).
- Creation of low-carbon structural concrete using biomass ash.
- Publication of the European Assessment Document (EAD) for timber-concrete composite systems and CE marking and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for Rod-Compact and Rod-Alveo.
- Implementation of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) integrating timber traceability.
- Development of a carbon methodology for construction integrated into Galicia’s voluntary carbon credit system.
- Development of a NEB methodology applicable to product and building design.
- Creation of green public and private procurement guidelines for timber construction.
- Construction of a LIFE TIMBER FOR ALL demonstration building.
Partners
