December 16, 2024|
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|12 months ago40% of Swiss Wood Directly Burned, Raising Environmental Concerns
New Empa study reveals low 8% recycling rate for wood in Switzerland, sparking debate about sustainable resource management
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Around 40% of Swiss wood is used directly for energy, meaning it is burned rather than recycled or repurposed.
- The recycling rate for wood in Switzerland is just under 8%.
- Paper has a recycling rate of 70% in Switzerland.
- Switzerland harvests between five and seven million cubic metres of wood annually.
By The Numbers
40%
Percentage of wood burned directly
8%
Wood recycling rate
70%
Paper recycling rate
5-7 million
Cubic metres harvested annually
They Said
"This situation is not ideal, especially as wood is one of the most important raw materials on the road to a climate-neutral future."
"It should only go into the furnace when it can no longer be used as a material."