Environmental ramifications of various materials used in construction and manufacture in the United States.

Abstract

Forest resource supply analysis has increasingly been done in an economic market context. Little work has been done to assess the environmental consequences of a change in timber harvests that would result in a shift in competing markets. The purpose of this study was to estimate a relation among construction materials as they are used as substitutes or complements of each other and to qualitatively assess the environmental consequences of the extraction, manufacture, use, and disposal of wood products, steel, cement, aluminum, and plastics. Lumber cross price elasticities with competing materials were computed for three major end uses (construction, shipping, and other). The elasticities can be used to estimate the extent to which various commodities are related to each other. Wood-based products, steel, plastics, aluminum, and cement all have substantial extraction impacts; steel and plastics extraction results in the most voluminous, lasting, and toxic effects of the five industries. Sawn-wood products and cement seem to have the least environmental effects resulting from,manufacture, whereas steel, aluminum, and plastics created major problems. Each industry creates problems in disposal.

Citation

Alexander, S.; Greber, B. 1991. Environmental ramifications of various materials used in construction and manufacture in the United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-277. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 21 p