Wood as a Building Material – A Natural and Responsible Choice

Good Indoor Air Quality: Breathability and VOC Emissions

Wood “breathes”: it naturally balances humidity, which has a positive effect on indoor air quality. Some wood products—especially softwood materials—emit naturally occurring and relatively low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC emissions) compared to synthetic materials. Potential VOC emissions from plastic products, other synthetic materials, or heavily treated surfaces are typically formed through industrial processes and often consist of industrial solvents, plasticisers, and binding agents, which can make them significantly more harmful.

At the same time, many mouldings, panels, and floors made from domestic wood can be produced without unnecessary chemical loads. Surface treatments can be applied using water-based and low-emission finishes. At E.T. Listat Oy, most products carry the M1 emission classification, which indicates low emissions. The surface treatment products used are also water-soluble and meet the M1 criteria.

The Origin of Wood – Responsibility Begins in the Forest

The ecological value of wood is not based solely on its renewability but also on where and how it is sourced. The responsibility of a building material begins in the forest and continues through the transparency of the entire supply chain.

The raw materials used by E.T. Listat mainly come from certified Finnish forests. The origin of the wood and the responsibility of forest management are monitored through PEFC certification, which ensures that ecological, social, and economic aspects are taken into account in forestry practices. Certification guarantees, among other things, sustainable harvesting levels, protection of biodiversity, and forest regeneration.

In addition, the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will further strengthen the traceability of wood products. Under the regulation, products placed on the market must be traceable and must demonstrate that their production has not caused deforestation. This increases transparency throughout the entire value chain and supports responsible operators.

When the origin of wood is documented and monitored, it ensures that the building material not only appears natural—but truly is throughout its entire life cycle.

Carbon Footprint and Responsible Production

The manufacturing and processing of wood often require less energy than the production of concrete or steel. Wood stores carbon during its growth, which means that wooden construction can significantly reduce the overall emissions of building projects.

At E.T. Listat, we strive to consider environmental impacts at every stage of production: we have measured our carbon footprint and developed our processes to reduce emissions and improve circular economy practices. Our goal is also to publish Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for various products, making their life-cycle assessments more transparent and comparable. You can find the E.T. Listat EPD environmental declaration for wood-based moulding and panel products here (in finnish).