Industry 5.0 in the wooden construction sector

Background

The construction sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from fossil fuel use and building material production. Timber is a more sustainable option due to its lower grey energy requirement, but sustainable forest management is essential to reduce emissions. The transformation of our industries towards the concept of Industry 5.0 through digitalization, robotization, and machine learning, will transform the value chain in the timber construction sector, from forestry to construction, maintenance and recycling. These technological developments need to follow a human-centred approach to technology design, considering potential positive or negative effects on the working and living environment.

Key points:

The EESC:

• stresses that wood is a renewable raw material that produces lower carbon emissions than other building materials, which makes it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional building materials such as concrete and steel. The use of wood in the construction sector also promotes the conservation and maintenance of forests by providing incentives for sustainable forest management.
• underlines the importance of education, training and lifelong learning of the workforce in the field of timber construction and sees significant opportunities for workers, especially in rural areas, in the development of the timber construction sector.
• notes that people living in earthquake-prone areas should be encouraged to use wood in the construction sector, given the anti-seismic behaviour of this material.

Additional information

Commission: Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI)

Opinion type: Supplementary Opinion

Rapporteur: Martin Böhme

Co-Rapporteur: Rolf Gehring

Reference: Supplementary opinion to TEN/794 on Wooden construction for CO2 reduction in the building sector, exploratory opinion requested by the Swedish Presidency.

Date of the CCMI meeting: 27 February 2023

Results of the CCMI meeting vote (delegates): 28 in favour, 0 against, 1 abstention

Results of the CCMI meeting vote (members): 29 in favour, 0 against, 3 abstentions

Contacts:

Giorgia Battiato (Press Officer)
Tel.: + 32 2 546 9449 | Mob: +32 475 999 431
email: giorgia.battiato@eesc.europa.eu

Marie-Laurence Drillon (Administrator)
Tel.: +32 2 546 8320
email: Marie-laurence.Drillon@eesc.europa.eu