Pilot Projects, in collaboration with Metabolic and Glasgow City Council, conducted a comprehensive Material Flow Analysis (MFA) of wood used in Glasgow's construction sector. The study examines the entire lifecycle of wood materials — from sourcing and processing to application and end-of-life — to inform the city's sustainable procurement strategies aligned with Glasgow's Climate Plan and Circular Economy Route Map.

Glasgow uses approximately 142,000 m³ of wood annually, with roughly one-third sourced domestically and two-thirds imported — predominantly from Northern European countries such as Sweden and Latvia. The construction sector is the primary consumer, accounting for 56,000 m³, with sawn softwood making up the majority of building applications.

Key findings reveal that half of all wooden building elements are used in low-rise homes, with very limited wood use in high-rise and non-residential buildings — where steel and concrete dominate. By adopting wood construction across all building types, total annual wood use in new buildings could increase by 68,000 m³, substantially replacing carbon-intensive materials and increasing carbon storage in the built environment.

The study also examines end-of-life wood flows: Glasgow generates approximately 48,600 m³ of wood waste annually from construction, demolition, and households. Currently, 69% of this is incinerated rather than recycled — representing a significant opportunity to improve circularity and reduce carbon emissions.

The MFA offers actionable recommendations including: procurement policies mandating certified wood for all Glasgow City Council contracts; prioritizing locally sourced Scottish and UK timber; designing buildings for multiple lifecycles and disassembly; implementing material passports to track wood flows; and increasing the use of engineered wood products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) in building typologies where wood is currently underused.

This analysis serves as a foundational resource for Glasgow's transition to a more circular, lower-carbon construction sector — helping the city evaluate direct procurement, guide supply chain partnerships, and influence national policy based on local data. It forms part of the broader Sustainable Wood for Cities program, connecting Glasgow's urban material flows to global forest conservation strategies.