The Timber Transport CO2 Calculator
This calculator has been developed to calculate the annual greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. the carbon footprint) from the transportation of wood alternatives being used instead of Accoya®.
To reach the end value the following parameters need to be calculated: density (including moisture content), transport distance, vehicle efficiency and the life span of the wood (the longer the lifespan of the wood, the less replacements required, resulting in less transport). To make a custom-made calculation please complete the cells in the calculator below. For a realistic example (Accoya® wood vs Western Red Cedar from USA) please refer here. This is also prefilled under “wood alternative”.
Please see various prefilled examples at the bottom of this page. All distance calculations have been made using www.sea-distances.org and Google maps. The wood specific weight figures have been derived from www.houtinfo.nl.
Transport emission factors
Source: Eco-Invent v3
Vehicle: Truck (> 32 tons)
kg CO2eq / ton/km: 0.085
Ratio compared to ship: 7.1
Vehicle: Ship (transoceanic)
kg CO2eq / ton/km: 0.012
Ratio compared to ship: 1
Vehicle: Rail (diesel USA)
kg CO2eq / ton/km: 0.059
Ratio compared to ship: 4.9
Vehicle: Air (freight)
kg CO2eq / ton/km: 1.13
Ratio compared to ship: 94.2
Results
This calculator tool has been developed to calculate the annual greenhouse gas emissions (i.e. the carbon footprint) from the transport of wood.
This calculator uses a 50 year life span as Accoya® wood is guaranteed for 50 years. The calculator shows that because of the extended life span and low CO2 emissions per ton.km of sea freight, in various scenarios the annual CO2 emissions (CO2 emissions divided by lifespan) for transport of the Radiata Pine used to produce Accoya® is lower than for alternative realistic wood scenarios (see various examples below).
Annual transport emissions
[kg cO2 eq/yr]
Dutch Examples
This scenario is based on transport to Arnhem, the Netherlands.
For comparative analysis, please refer to the overall graphs at the bottom.
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 200 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 120 km Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 20811 km (Napier – Rotterdam, calculated via http://www.sea-distances.org/)
- Lifespan: 50 years (durability class I)
2.4 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 200 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 120 km Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 20811 km (Napier – Rotterdam)
- Lifespan: 5 years (durability class V)
24.01 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 370 kg / m3
- Trucking: 400 km (Central Washington > Seattle + Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 16381 km (Seattle, Rotterdam NL)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
4.27 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 640 kg / m3
- Trucking: 450 km (Central Sarawak – Kuching + Rotterdam – Arnhem) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 16170 km (Kuching – Rotterdam NL)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
7.43 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 1060 kg / m3
- Trucking: 700 km (South Eastern Cameroon – Douala + Rotterdam – Arnhem) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 8427 km (Douala – Rotterdam NL)
- Lifespan: 30 years (durability class I)
5.68 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 520 kg / m3
- Trucking: 600 km (Freiburg > Arnhem)
- Lifespan: 7.5 years (durability class IV)
3.54 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
Annual transport emissions
[kg CO2 eq/yr]
UK Examples
This scenario is based on transport to London harbour, UK.
For comparative analysis, please refer to the overall graphs at the bottom.
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 320 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 240 km roundtrip Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 21157 km (Napier – Rotterdam + Rotterdam – London)
- Lifespan: 50 years (durability class I)
2.53 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 80 km (New Zealand plantation – Napier)
- Shipping: 20735 km (Napier – London)
- Lifespan: 5 years (durability class V)
23.01 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 370 kg / m3
- Trucking: 200 km (Central Washington – Seattle)
- Shipping: 16305 km (Seattle – London)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
3.93 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 650 kg / m3
- Trucking: 580 km (South Eastern Cameroon – Douala) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 8351 km (Douala – London)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
4.86 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 1060 kg / m3
- Trucking: 580 km (South Eastern Cameroon – Douala) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 8351 km (Douala – London)
- Lifespan: 30 years (durability class I)
5.28 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 520 kg / m3
- Trucking: 700 km (Freiburg > Rotterdam)
- Shipping: 346 km (Rotterdam – London)
- Lifespan: 7.5 years (durability class IV)
4.41 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 520 kg / m3
- Trucking: 800 km (Central Scotland – London)
- Lifespan: 7.5 years (durability class IV)
4.71 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
Annual transport emissions
[kg CO2 eq/yr]
USA Examples
This scenario is based on transport to the harbour of Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
For comparative analysis, please refer to the overall graphs at the bottom.
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 320 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 240 km roundtrip Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 27380 km (Napier – Rotterdam + Rotterdam – Norfolk)
- Lifespan: 50 years (durability class I)
3.2 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 80 km (New Zealand plantation – Napier)
- Shipping: 15218 km (Napier – Norfolk)
- Lifespan: 5 years (durability class V)
17.05 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 370 kg / m3
- Trucking: 100 km (Central Washington – rail head)
- Train transport: 4700 km (railhead central Washington – Norfolk)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
1.2 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 1050 kg / m3
- Trucking: 900 km (Western Amazon area – Belem) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 5264 km (Belem – Norfolk)
- Lifespan: 30 years (durability class I)
4.89 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 500 kg / m3
- Trucking: 4200 km (Eastern Oregon – Norfolk)
- Lifespan: 7.5 years (durability class IV)
23.8 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
Annual transport emissions
[kg CO2 eq/yr]
German Examples
This scenario is based on transport to Frankfurt am Main, Germany (after acetylation in Arnhem, the Netherlands).
For comparative analysis, please refer to the overall graphs at the bottom.
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 530 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 450 km Rotterdam – Frankfurt)
- Shipping: 20811 km (Napier – Rotterdam, calculated via http://www.sea-distances.org/)
- Lifespan: 50 years (durability class I)
2.65 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 530 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 450 km Rotterdam – Frankfurt)
- Shipping: 20811 km (Napier – Rotterdam)
- Lifespan: 5 years (durability class V)
26.53 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 370 kg / m3
- Trucking: 730 km (Central Washington > Seattle + Rotterdam – Frankfurt)
- Shipping: 16381 km (Seattle, Rotterdam NL)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
4.78 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 640 kg / m3
- Trucking: 780 km (Central Sarawak – Kuching + Rotterdam – Frankfurt) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 16170 km (Kuching – Rotterdam NL)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
8.33 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 1060 kg / m3
- Trucking: 1030 km (South Eastern Cameroon – Douala + Rotterdam – Frankfurt) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 8427 km (Douala – Rotterdam NL)
- Lifespan: 30 years (durability class I)
6.67 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 520 kg / m3
- Trucking: 270 km (Freiburg > Frankfurt)
- Lifespan: 7.5 years (durability class IV)
1.59 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
Annual transport emissions
[kg CO2 eq/yr]
French Examples
This scenario is based on transport to the port of Le Havre, France.
For comparative analysis, please refer to the overall graphs at the bottom.
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 320 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 240 km roundtrip Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 21269 km (Napier – Rotterdam + Rotterdam – Le Havre)
- Lifespan: 50 years (durability class I)
2.54 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 80 km (New Zealand plantation – Napier)
- Shipping: 20465 km (Napier – Le Havre)
- Lifespan: 5 years (durability class V)
22.71 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 370 kg / m3
- Trucking: 300 km (Central Washington > Seattle )
- Shipping: 16035 km (Seattle – Le Havre)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
4.03 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 1050 kg / m3
- Trucking: 900 km (Western Amazon area – Belem) NOTE: effect of higher emissions because of frequent use of outdated, less efficient trucks not taken into account
- Shipping: 7362 km (Belem – Le Havre)
- Lifespan: 30 years (durability class I)
5.77 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 520 kg / m3
- Trucking: 800 km (Freiburg > Le Havre)
- Lifespan: 7.5 years (durability class IV)
4.71 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
Annual transport emissions
[kg CO2 eq/yr]
Australian Examples
This scenario is based on transport to the harbour of Brisbane, Australia.
For comparative analysis, please refer to the overall graphs at the bottom.
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 450 kg / m3
- Trucking: 320 km (80 km New Zealand plantation – port of Napier + 240 km roundtrip Rotterdam – Arnhem)
- Shipping: 41131 km (Napier – Rotterdam + Rotterdam – Brisbane)
- Lifespan: 50 years (durability class I)
4.69 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 370 kg / m3
- Trucking: 300 km (Central Washington – Seattle)
- Shipping: 11988 km (Seattle – Brisbane)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
3.13 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 970 kg / m3
- Trucking: 1200 km (Canberra – Brisbane)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
4.95 kg CO2eq/m3/yr
- Transported at 12% MC > related density = 850 kg / m3
- Trucking: 1200 km (Canberra – Brisbane)
- Lifespan: 20 years (durability class II)
4.34 kg CO2eq/m3/yr