Climate protection in the value chain: opportunities and approaches for sustainable management

Climate change calls for a rethink in all areas of the economy. Companies have a responsibility to make their value chains not only more efficient, but above all more sustainable. Particularly in resource-intensive sectors such as construction, switching to climate-friendly materials and processes offers enormous potential - both for climate protection and for the innovative strength of companies.

A key lever lies in taking a holistic view of the value chain. Emissions can be reduced along all phases - from the procurement of raw materials to production and distribution. Key measures include the use of sustainable materials, energy-efficient technologies and the promotion of recycling and the circular economy. At the same time, close cooperation with partners makes it possible to set sustainable standards and implement them along the entire supply chain.

An outstanding example of this approach is the use of wood - a natural, renewable raw material that can play a decisive role in climate protection.

Wood as a valuable resource

Wood is one of the oldest materials used by mankind and is also a raw material of the future. Wood is already used in many different ways in sectors such as construction, the furniture industry and paper production. 

Advantages of wood:

1. CO₂ binding: Wood stores carbon as it grows. Every cubic metre of wood used instead of concrete or steel saves up to 2 tons of CO₂ emissions. This is particularly true if the wood is used for durable products such as wooden houses and thus binds_{CO2 in the long term}.
2. Sustainability: Wood is a renewable raw material and is available in abundance with responsible forest management.
3. Circular economy: Wood products can be recycled or used for energy, which further minimizes the consumption of resources.
4. Flexibility: Wood is durable, versatile and promotes healthy living thanks to its positive effects on the indoor climate.

However, the sustainable use of wood requires forest management that protects ecosystems and meets the challenges of climate change.

The supply of wood is at risk

Climate change in combination with widespread monocultures in forests is increasingly jeopardizing the availability of high-quality timber. Extreme weather events such as droughts or severe storms lead to large-scale tree deaths, which floods the timber market with large quantities of low-quality wood in the short term, but leads to a shortage and rising prices in the long term. After such damaging events, it often takes years or even decades before newly reforested stands of mature trees are available again. 

For companies that rely on wood as a raw material, this worsens planning security: fluctuating quality and prices make investments and innovation projects more difficult. To counter this risk, the diversification of tree species is becoming increasingly important. Mixed forests are more resistant to pests and climate change and therefore make a decisive contribution to a resilient and sustainable timber supply chain.

Sustainability in action: Baufritz and Pina Earth

A prime example of sustainable value chains is provided by the company Baufritza pioneer in ecological house construction. Wood is the central building material here, sourced primarily from responsibly managed forests. Short transport routes of usually only around 150 km and the minimization of emissions in all production steps underline the company's commitment to climate protection. The first_{CO2 balance sheet} was drawn up back in 2015 in order to be able to implement climate protection measures in a targeted manner.

How Baufritz makes a sustainable contribution to climate protection:

In addition to continuous reduction measures, in particular to reduce Scope 3 emissions and thus minimize the company's own footprint, Baufritz is committed to sustainability along the entire value chain.

• ‍Long-termbinding of CO₂ in timber houses: A timber house from Baufritz acts as an effective CO₂ store for many decades, as calculations show that between 40 and 60 tons of carbon dioxide are permanently stored in each construction. This means that the greenhouse gas, which was removed from the atmosphere in the tree, is stored for the long term and makes an important contribution to climate protection.
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• Involvement in the "Climate Protection Wood Industry Initiative": Baufritz is a member of an overarching initiative in which companies from the wood industry join forces to continuously reduce their carbon footprint and jointly promote climate protection projects. As part of this, Baufritz supports innovative forest conversion projects from Pina Earth. Active forest conversion transforms monocultures into climate-resilient mixed forests that are more resistant to drought, storms and pests. Such projects not only create ecological benefits, but also make supply chains resilient and secure the future of wood as a resource. In this way, Baufritz is making an important contribution to climate protection, which has a positive impact on its own value chain.

This commitment also underlines the ambition of Managing Director Dagmar Fritz-Kramer. She wants to make a climate contribution for remaining emissions where they occur. Regional climate protection projects such as Pina Earth help with this.

Forest conversion: the basis for sustainable timber construction

Adapting our forests to climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Projects like those of Pina Earth show how the transition to resilient mixed forests can succeed. 

These forests:

...increase the resilience and planning security of the supply chain: mixed forests react robustly to environmental changes, pest infestations and extreme weather. As a result, the wood supply remains more constant and companies can plan better in the long term. The risk of fluctuating availability and quality is minimized, especially in times of climate change. Ultimately, this increases the competitiveness and reliability of your own supply chain.

...bind and reduce CO₂ in the long term along the value chain: the interaction of different tree species binds more carbon dioxide and the forest remains healthy, which keeps the climate protection effect stable in the long term. Companies that source their wood from such forests noticeably reduce their carbon footprint. In addition to the climate-friendly image, they also benefit from lower emissions along the entire value chain.

...promote biodiversity and strengthen the ecosystem: a healthy mixed forest not only provides raw materials, but also fulfills important ecosystem functions such as water storage, erosion protection and a habitat for a high diversity of species. Companies benefit from this comprehensive approach to nature conservation, as it sustainably preserves the forest as a resource and has a positive impact on the brand image.

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Supporting such projects closes the circle between climate protection, sustainable value creation and the responsibility of companies like Baufritz. After all, protecting our forests not only secures the future of wood as a resource, but also that of our planet.

"Sustainability starts on our own doorstep. That's why we at Baufritz focus on regional climate protection projects - such as our partnership with Pina Earth. This way, our commitment does not remain abstract, but literally grows in our Bavarian forests." - Michael Sailer, Head of Administrative Management at Baufritz.