Life Cycle Assessment of Construction Timber Waste Within a Circular Economy Framework: A Comprehensive Overview

Abstract Timber waste produced throughout the building life cycle is a growing environmental concern, particularly as global construction activity accelerates. This review critically evaluates the environmental performance of timber waste management strategies—including prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and landfilling—through circular economy principles. A total of 69 peer-reviewed studies were selected from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with a geographic focus on Europe, the United States, and China. Environmental impacts were assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA), with results standardised per one ton of timber waste. Global warming potential ranged up to 1780 kg CO₂-equivalent per ton, with notable variation across treatment methods. Recycling (52%) and landfilling (27%) were the most commonly evaluated, while only 2% of studies addressed waste prevention through design innovation. Activated carbon production, timber reuse, and incineration with energy recovery were among the most environmentally favourable options. In contrast, landfilling resulted in the highest environmental burdens due to limited methane recovery. The review identifies key research gaps, including inconsistent LCA methodologies, limited regional data, and a lack of performance analysis for recycled timber. Importantly, the findings provide practical insights for construction industry stakeholders and policymakers by highlighting priority areas for waste minimisation, regulatory harmonisation, and circular design adoption. These insights can guide evidence-based policy development and promote sustainable resource management across the construction sector.