Climate-friendly wooden buildings rise across U.S. and Europe
Mass timber construction is experiencing rapid growth in the U.S., expanding by about 20% annually and marking 2025 as a pivotal year for the material’s adoption. Despite funding cuts to other sustainable initiatives, more than 2,500 mass timber projects — including offices for major companies like Google, Microsoft and Under Armour — are either completed or underway. Made by layering and gluing lumber to form strong structural beams, mass timber offers a low-carbon alternative to steel and concrete, which together account for a significant share of the construction industry’s 37% contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the U.N., replacing conventional materials with mass timber could cut global emissions by up to 31%, positioning it as a key driver in the shift toward sustainable, climate-conscious building practices in the U.S. and Europe.
According to Midlandco, “Buildings and construction account for 37 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2023 report by the United Nations Environment Program. The production of cement and steel for construction accounts for 11 percent of global emissions.”
