Green buildings
Benefits of using wood in buildings
Wood is good – especially when it’s used as a building material.
Perfectly suited to more sustainable and resilient design, wood and modern engineered timber systems can play a powerful role in construction.
The main benefits of using wood include:
- Reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. Wood is renewable, biogenic and, in typical building applications, can have a significantly lower cradle-to-grave footprint than aluminum, PVC or steel
- When responsibly sourced, well detailed and properly protected, wood provides lasting durability, robust performance and distinctive architectural quality
- Wood brings warmth and character to façades and interiors. Exposed timber surfaces can make spaces feel more welcoming and inviting than those dominated by glass, metal and concrete. This is particularly valued in homes, schools, offices, leisure venues and healthcare environments, where the comfort and well-being of the occupants are paramount
In collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, we have published a white paper about the benefits of using wood as a building material. Entitled “The case for wood in more sustainable buildings” it can be downloaded here and viewed below.
Did you know?
Wood can enhance the aesthetics of a building’s interior and exterior as it allows for large flexibility in design format. It’s a lightweight material and provides a natural look and feel.
Wood has a lower carbon footprint than PVC, aluminum or steel and is efficient to build with because it has a high structural performance combined with relative low weight. An assessment made in 2025 by AkzoNobel and the University of Amsterdam shows that wooden windows have a significantly lower carbon footprint than PVC windows over the lifetime of the windows.
Wood helps create a better working and living environment due to its biophilic design. Research suggests that exposure to natural materials can help reduce stress and improve perceived comfort.
AkzoNobel offers a unique combined solution for building owners and maintenance companies. It helps to limit the number of maintenance interventions over the full lifecycle of a building. This solution combines longer lasting protection from factory applied finishes on the virgin wood, with the decorative paints used for maintenance. As well as combining warranties, this unique solution also makes it simpler for building designers to specify wood.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Atchugarry Museum of Contemporary Art, Uruguay
World of Volvo, Gothenburg, Sweden
How we can support you
At AkzoNobel, we make it easier for customers and specifiers to use wood in building design and construction and help protect wooden building materials over their entire lifetime. We also offer specific warranties for the protection of wooden building elements.
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