Zero-waste solutions for healthy living

The development of zero-waste products and building solutions requires a holistic approach that integrates innovation, design, and user perception.

This process involves:

analysing new technologies, resources and existing zero-waste concepts
designing zero-waste building products and building elements
designing blueprints for zero-waste buildings and renovations
investigating human perception on using underutilised resources in buildings

Analysing new technologies, resources and existing zero-waste concepts

Existing solutions for underutilised wood construction

WoodStock will collect and review solutions for underutilised wood construction through the analysis of literature and best practices in Europe. These practices can be innovative, historical or vernacular.

It will include practices at product, element and building level that:

upgrades currently underutilised wood sources
reduces production waste
extends the service-life of new and existing wood products and buildings
creates high-value end-of-life options for wood products

The review will evaluate these practices regarding zero-waste objectives and the NEB values.

New technologies

WoodStock will analyse the potential of new technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence), robotics, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, 3D scanning, BIM (Building Information Modelling) and material passports in zero-waste design, construction and manufacturing processes.

WoodStock will specifically consider four types of underutilised wood sources, geometric, physical and mechanical properties: hardwood, low-quality wood, post-consumer wood, and damaged wood.

Stijn Brancart

project partner Delft University of Technology

Identification zero-waste design strategies

Based on the analysis of technologies and existing zero-waste practices, the review will identify zero-waste design strategies on product and building level.

Designing zero-waste building products and building elements

WoodStock will develop new solutions for zero-waste wood construction products using three methods:

co-creation
physical experimentation
holistic assessment

To increase the circularity of building solutions we target modular prefab panel systems. Various solid wood fractions can be recombined in the structure using machine learning tools, and innovative binders such as mycelium can be used to grow a new generation of wood-based products.

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systemic zero-waste solutions through co-creation

Through co-creation workshops in three Living Labs (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Université de Bordeaux, Delft University of Technology) researchers, students and wood construction actors (architects, engineers, manufacturers, contractors, forestry sector, municipalities, users) will co-develop more than 100 systemic zero-waste solutions for locally available wood sources based on the developed zero-waste strategies.

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zero-waste solutions prototypes through physical experiments

testing different joining techniques
comparing different material compositions (e.g. through heat, air and moisture transfer simulations)
evaluating (digital) manufacturing routines

1:1 prototypes of building elements

Based on these experiments, WoodStock will prototype three types of building elements on 1:1 scale at the Green Village Living Lab of TU Delft (the Netherlands):

a timber frame
floor elements
a variation of biobased wall panels

Holistic assessment

WoodStock will evaluate the developed zero-waste solutions using a holistic sustainability assessment method and validation workshops with relevant and involved actors. This will include monitoring of existing solutions at Living Lab Galway and Resilient Habitat. The assessment will consider technical and practical feasibility, environmental impact, and the expected industry and user acceptance.

Design guidelines for multi-storey timber building

WoodStock will capture the main insights from the design, testing and evaluation and develop them into design guidelines focusing on using the innovations in multi-storey timber buildings for:

new construction
existing buildings

4 SME grants

WoodStock will award 4 grants of 50 000 EUR to support SMEs in developing innovative and systemic zero-waste solutions. WoodStock will support these SME’s and capture their experience for

the evaluation of the zero-waste solutions
the development of business models
the identification of standards and policy-related barriers

WoodStock will develop blueprints for zero-waste wood construction design in three steps: develop design workflows, catalogue zero-waste wood products and elements and co-create building designs.

Antonio Nevešćanin

project partner Lodz University of Technology

zero-waste solutions for healthy living

Designing blueprints for zero-waste buildings and renovations

WoodStock will accelerate the adoption of sustainable, zero-waste practises in the built environment. It pioneers novel methodologies for zero-waste wood construction, setting a new global standard for environmentally conscious buildings. Blueprints will provide a modular framework for zero-waste timber construction that balances material variability and industrialisation.

Design workflows

The project will conceptualize and test workflows for the design of buildings and building elements, constrained by stocks of existing timber components or locally sourced resources.

The TUDelft and NTNU Living Labs will experiment with these workflows on a realistic design case with a (small) component of 1:1 physical prototyping. The workflows will include new technologies as analysed.

WoodBook, a catalogue for zero-waste wood products and elements

WoodStock will collect and document existing and newly developed zero-waste products and elements in a digital catalogue WoodBook to facilitate the application of zero-waste solutions.

The catalogue will contain technical drawings and information, and in some cases fully digital Building Information Modeling (BIM) components

Co-create zero-waste buildings

Through co-creation with students and construction organisations, WoodStock will develop design blueprints for zero-waste buildings in Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Belgium. This includes

adaptive reuse
deconstruction and renovation of existing buildings in urban and rural areas
new buildings and building extensions in an urban context

Digital twins for evaluation and engagement

Besides zero-waste strategies, designs will consider aspects of future and climate proof design, and the social and spatial needs of the local communities. A digital workflow, including an integrated BIM approach with digital pipelines for model acquisition, visualisation and simulation will facilitate the co-creative design process. To facilitate this process, the project will integrate a digital twin concept with augmented reality (AR) for design evaluation, communication and participatory engagement.

Co-creation in an international school

WoodStock will bring together students and construction companies from different EU member states in an international school. This approach will foster creativity and ensure that the designs are adapted to the social and spatial needs of the local communities. The incorporation of advanced digital technologies, such as augmented reality and digital twins, will revolutionise the design process. It will allow real-time evaluation and engagement in the creation of zero-waste buildings.

Zero-waste wood products and elements catalogued in the innovative WoodBook will give the designers easy access to help them utilise sustainable materials in their building designs, which will promote eco-friendly construction practices.

We will investigate the human perception towards underutilised wood in construction through an online survey and experimental research. It will provide comprehensive insights into the psychological and physical responses to new wood designs across Europe.

Rok Prislan

project partner InnoRenew CoE

Zero-waste solutions for healthy living

Investigating human perception regarding the use of underutilised resources

The study includes:

Co-creating visual stimuli representing various wood uses and designs, including traditional crafts, salvaged wood, and modern applications.
Based on the visual stimuli, conducting a survey to assess opinions across Europe, taking into account demographics, professional backgrounds, with a focus on inclusivity.
Based on the survey, establishing a baseline of attitudes for future comparison and cultural change analysis.
Based on the results, designing experimental approaches for in-situ experiments of wood perception, focusing on cultural acceptance, and developing a framework to increase desirability of sustainable wood products.
Constructing indoor spaces at NTNU and IR for in-situ measurements, employing a mix-method approach to analyse human health, wellbeing, and participants’ reactions in the built environment:
1. Utilising Post Occupancy Evaluation methods, including Indoor Environmental Quality assessments.
2. Measuring participants' reactions using biophysical sensors and cognitive response through functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Our research

Resources, flows and impacts

Zero-waste solutions for healthy living

Innovation, policies and strategies for a sustainable wood construction sector