The ForestED project has come to an end, consolidating key advances in sustainable construction and the forest-based bioeconomy.
Among the most significant achievements of the ForestED project, the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) led the development and validation of innovative structural timber products such as CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) and glued laminated timber (GLT), manufactured using local species including oak, beech, chestnut, and Aleppo pine.
ForestED aimed to demonstrate the potential of locally sourced timber to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings by replacing conventional materials with renewable solutions. CTFC played a central role in prototype manufacturing and in conducting physical and mechanical tests in accordance with European standards UNE-EN 16351 and UNE-EN 14080. These tests made it possible to determine static bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and bonding quality in CLT panels and laminated beams. The results are promising, particularly for indoor applications.
Durability and Thermal Performance Testing
In addition to mechanical analysis, CTFC carried out durability tests in climate chambers and under natural aging conditions, assessing surface protection and color stability. In parallel, the thermal performance of CLT panels was studied under steady-state and transient conditions, measuring parameters such as thermal damping and time lag, which are essential for improving energy efficiency in building envelopes.
These advances were materialized in experimental prototypes that integrate architectural design and forest-based technology, contributing to the decarbonization of the construction sector and to the valorization of local timber species.
ForestED was coordinated by IAAC, with the participation of CTFC, the Consorci Forestal de Catalunya, and the Galician Forest Association, and was funded by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, with NextGenerationEU funding.
Last modified: 16 December 2025
