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Abstract
Carbon footprints are commonly used to assess environmental properties of building products,
for comparisons of similar products and in order to minimize the environmental impact of
products and projects. A carbon footprint is calculated with the use of life cycle assessment
(LCA), where the emissions from cradle-to-grave are accounted for as well as emissions from
upstream production like electricity. Sawmill production is a multiple output system and the
choice among the methods on how to allocate the footprint have previously shown to be
important. This paper finds that methodological choices for electricity mix and carbon cycle of
bioenergy of a potential much larger importance. The Norwegian electricity mix is almost
carbon neutral, but a change in practice to international mixes can have large impacts.
Bioenergy from forests have up until now usually been regarded as carbon neutral, but an
approach with carbon dept will make the emissions almost half of fossil fuels. The present
article aims at providing an overview of previous LCA studies and comparing the results with
recent LCA studies carried out in cooperation with Norwegian sawmill industry. This will show
the possible effects for the carbon footprint of sawmill products from a changes in common
practice for the choice of electricity mix and including an accounting of the carbon cycle of
bioenergy.