Being one of the most significant industries in the world, the construction industry produces solid

waste and it is responsible for 40% of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the extensive usage of synthetic
construction materials is creating a serious impact on the environment. Hence, various research and
developments are undertaken so as to incorporate more sustainable practices in engineering or
construction projects. Thus, the incorporation of innovative technologies along with modifying the
existing machinery or procedures helps to satisfy the demand for sustainability by improving the
strengths, durability, and insulating qualities. CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) is multiple crosswise-
arranged wood products that are then cemented together. This technical report focused on an
analysis of cross-laminated timber that is widely accepted for residential and commercial buildings
along with providing recommendations to improve the usage of CLT.

The production of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is made by using fast-growing wood, hardwood,
bamboo, and local wood and the production process mainly includes six steps, the first step is the
grading of the stiffness whereas the second step includes the cutting down of the local growth
appearances that do not meet the condition for construction (De Araujo et al., 2023). The third step
is the cutting of lamellas whereas the fourth step includes the creation of a single-layer panel. The
fifth and six step are to assemble and customise the product respectively.

While analysing the properties, CLT is made up of glued, layered wood, planks, or lamellas and is
highlighted due to its appearance, strength, sustainability, and versatility. Construction using CLT
helps to reduce carbon emissions along with reducing construction time (CLT is six times faster than
the conventional method), which contributes to overall sustainability. The concrete dust released due
to the building demolition of concrete buildings can release large amounts of respirable crystalline
silica (RCS) whereas CLT is environmentally friendly and the decomposable nature does not demand
landfill. However, as CLT is developed from wood, the issue of deforestation and lack of fire
resistance is challenging, but the studies revealed that CLT is beneficial as it protects the building
from earthquakes (Nakano et al., 2020).

While examining the function and applicability, it is evident that the production process of this
material does not demand the combustion of fossil fuels and aids in the reduction of trash on site
which eventually lowers the environmental effect and hence, is considered sustainable (Bhandari et
al., 2023). The high flexibility offered by CLT enables its application in large construction sites that
have utilised it for infrastructure and support. Moreover, its strong structure and captivating
appearance made it capable of the construction of small-scale buildings and used as the form for
pouring concrete on bridges as well. The thickness and the applicability of the CLT can be adjusted to
meet the needs of any project and the flexibility of the made it suitable for ceilings, walls, furniture,
floors, and roofs. Although the material is expensive, the less demand of man power and time
enhanced the applicability of CLT in the construction industry.

CLT is a sustainable alternative to conventional building materials like cement and steel and it
significantly reduces the adverse environmental impact caused by these conventional materials
(Sandoli et al., 2021). Moreover, it consists of layers of bonded wood and thus it is stronger and more
reliable therefore it withstands adverse environmental conditions such as earthquakes (Liisma et al.,
2019). CLTs are reusable materials and they significantly contribute to the approach of sustainability.
That is, it can be deconstructive and reusable in the construction of other buildings or new products
(Ghobadi, and Sepasgozar, 2023). In addition to that, being a lighter material, the production process
of CLT requires small bits of wood, less energy and fossil fuels and thus it is cost cost-effective
method compared to conventional construction ((Sandoli et al., 2021). CLT have the ability to store
and absorb carbon and also prevent and reduce the emission of CO2 and greenhouse gases
((Andersen et al., 2022; Pierobon et al., 2019).

Due to the production and utilisation of a large amount of concrete in the US and China, these
countries face the issue of high CO2 emissions (Guardian (2019; Duan et al., 2022). That is, the
production of the utilisation of concrete releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere and it
ultimately contributes increased rate of global warming (Ritchie and Roser, 2022). Moreover, air
pollution and landfilling is the other adverse impact made by concrete waste and reports show that
around 150 million tons of concrete waste are produced each year in India (Down to Earth, 2019).
Thus, the usage of cement and concrete materials adversely affects environmental stability and thus
CLT is the best alternative to these conventional materials. CLT emit a very small amount of CO2 and
along with it, it significantly absorbs the CO2 in the atmosphere and thereby contributes to the
reduction in CO2 emission and global warming (Abed et al., 2022). Thus, CO2 can mitigate the
environmental issues caused by the construction material by reducing air pollution and waste
production.

However, the production of CLT involves cutting brunches, smaller trees, or the top part of the trees
and increases the rate of deforestation (FABRIS, 2020). Global CLT Industry Survey (2020) reveals that
CLT production is high in Australia. That is, 50% of CLT is produced in Australia and thus the issue of
deforestation is high in this country (Conversation, 2022). In 2020-2022, 0.4% of forest loss occurred
in Western Australia and 0.5% of forest loss occurred in Queensland (Rain Forests, 2022). Therefore,
climate change is a major issue the country facing due to the increased forest loss. Therefore, it can
be interpreted that CLT significantly contributes to a sustainable environment by mitigating the
adverse environmental impact caused by traditional construction method. However, deforestation
due to CLT production has a negative impact on climate change.

Along with making positive and negative impacts on environmental well-being, CLT also makes an
impact on health and safety. The wood dust during CLT production causes adverse respiratory issues,
however, it is not as severe as the lung infection, breathing trouble, and allergy caused by cement
duct (Rahmani et al., 2018; Hanes, 2019). Moreover, CLT has low fire resistance and thus the chance
of explosion or flashfire is high and it can lead to a tragedy. These issues can be mitigated by
increasing the thickness, surface and orientation of CLT panels (Wiesner et al. (2019). In addition to
that CLT also causes allergic problems among occupants due to moisture intrusion during the
installation, or storage time of the CLT, especially in the winter season (Kalbe et al., 2022). Thus the
CLT have adverse health and safety impacts, however, it has a significant role in purifying the air by
absorbing CO2 and reducing CO2 emission (BuHamdan et al. (2021).

CLT is widely used for ceilings, walls, furniture, floors and roofs due to its features of durability,
aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and sustainability. Compared to conventional construction, CLT is
highly beneficial because it improves quality control, and ensures faster and more efficient
construction and easier cleaning. Moreover, CLT meets the concept of sustainability and thus it is the
best alternative solution for conventional materials like cement and concrete. That is, CLT
significantly reduce CO2 emission and global warming and due to its lightweight and stronger nature
CLT withstand adverse weather conditions such as earthquakes. However, deforestation due to CLT
production and health and safety issues such as respiratory problems and moisture intrusion and
slippery problems are the major concerns associated with CLT. Thus, while analysing the application
of CLT, it can be concluded that CLT has both positive and negative impacts on the environment.

The recommendations for the construction industry to exploit the utilities of CLT are given. The
lightweight property of the CLT can be useful for the pre-fabrication method. The possibility of fungal
presence can be mitigated by applying fungal-resisting coating before transportation (Bobadilha et
al., 2020). Moreover, as CLT can control the indoor temperature of a building along with purifying
the air, the technology can be used for the construction of multi-layered buildings by reducing
environmental safety risks. It is also recommended to incorporate the hybrid combination of CLT and
concrete in construction so as to enjoy the features of both materials and focus towards more
efficient construction (Pierobon et al., 2019).