Quantitative Evaluation of GHG Emissions from Hardwood Furniture in Japan and the Effect of Using Domestic Hardwoods

Abstract

In this study, in order to clarify the impact of the use of domestic timber for wooden chairs on greenhouse gas (hereinafter referred to as GHG) emissions from the product life cycle, chairs made of foreign hardwoods (referred to as Product A and Product B) manufactured by two wooden furniture manufacturers (referred to as Companies A and B) in the Hida-Takayama region of Gifu Prefecture, respectively, were evaluated with regard to GHG emissions and carbon storage, as calculated from raw material procurement to product manufacturing. In addition, GHG emissions were calculated for the case where the origin of the hardwood was converted from overseas to Japanese local and regional production. As a result, GHG emissions when foreign hardwoods were used were 23.12 kg-CO2e and 22.23 kg-CO2e per leg for Product A and Product B, respectively, and carbon storage was 11.20 kg-CO2 and 16.90 kg-CO2. In addition, the conversion of hardwoods to local and regional origin was found to reduce GHG emissions by about 25% and 27% for Product A and about 20% and 21% for Product B, respectively.