Peter Schwarzbauer

A holistic assessment of greenhouse gas dynamics from forests to the effects of wood products use in Austria

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic GHG emissions add a fast reinforcing feedback cycle to global carbon dynamics which continues to influence GHG concentrations in the Earths atmosphere. When looking at forest carbon cycles there is potential in utilizing another feedback cycle, namely the carbon cycle involving harvested wood products. To assess the potential of the mitigation options arising from these carbon flows, the forest-based sector in Austria was modelled to assess causal links, dependencies and dynamics involved in GHG-relevant processes. Carbon dynamics were investigated in forests and forest soil carbon, the forest product chain and life-cycle analyses for substitution of conventional products with wood products in a cascade of different modelling approaches and paradigms, and the results synthesized. It was found that material use of products from domestic timber sources has the highest climate change mitigation efficiency when originating from sustainably managed forests regarding biomass stocks. The emissions saved through building up a carbon stock from harvested wood products and through emissions substitution can be as high as ∼20 years of total annual Austrian emissions in 90 years. Additional conservation measures while sustaining sawnwood production and the related GHG benefits at a high level had the highest contribution to an overall carbon sink.

Identifying innovation barriers using a Delphi method approach: the case of technical lignin in the wood-based panel industry

Abstract About 50 million tons of lignin are produced annually in the pulping industry worldwide. A traditional example for lignin research is its use as a resin additive in wood based panels. The aim of this study was to find out why technical lignin has not so far succeeded in substituting for phenolic resins in the wood based panel industry. Interviews were carried out using a multistage expert interview approach adapted from Delphi methods. After the principal factors were identified and verified, quantitative data were taken for the valuation. Technical product properties received the highest ratings by the consulted experts, followed by security of supply, price difference and productivity, which received almost the same overall ratings. Interestingly, researchers rated security of supply much lower than the industry representatives. Depending on fulfilment of criteria identified, the experts expected that between 10 and 30% of phenolic resin can be potentially substituted within the next 10 years.

A Delphi Approach to Understanding Varying Expert Viewpoints in Sustainability Communication: The Case of Water Footprints of Bio-Based Fiber Resources

Summary In recent years, the concepts of accounting for water use and assessing its impact, also known as the water footprint (WF), have evolved. The cultivation of wood and cotton are two important bio-based fiber resources that can use, consume, and pollute huge amounts of water. The purpose of this study is to identify the methodological options on an inventory level asociated with a WF assessment for bio-based fiber resources. Using a three-step Argument Delphi approach with international experts, important, but controversial, aspects of water footprinting are elaborated. During the different rounds of the Delphi procedure, the interlacement of the crucial topics became apparent, including the net green water or the total volume of green water, trade-offs between water use and land-use impacts, allocation of the green WF on ecosystem services, and nomination of a reference situation (e.g., potential natural vegetation). Further, this study evaluates whether the experts allowed generalizations about these methodological options. Finally, the agreement of experts on some generalized statements showed that such statements can be used legitimately as long as knowledge of the inventory methods and knowledge of production characteristics are carefully combined.

Technical Communication in Assembly Instructions: An Empirical Study to Bridge the Gap Between Theoretical Gender Differences and Their Practical Influence

Women decide on about 80% of the goods that their household buys. But marketers often sell products, especially technical ones, that are designed by men and therefore are oriented largely toward their needs. Consequently, assembly instructions for these products are also oriented toward men’s needs. To illustrate the impact of gender orientation in assembly instructions, this study investigates whether theoretical cognitive or psychological gender differences have a practical influence on the usability of assembly instructions. This study has direct implications for technical writers who strive for a more universal design for such instructions.

What would potential future opinion leaders like to know? An explorative study on the perceptions of four wood-based innovations

Summary Wood-based innovations can substantially contribute to bioeconomy and future competitiveness of the forest-based sector. However, the forest-based sector lacks consumer-related information that is essential to achieve societal acceptance and market diffusion of wood-based innovations. Therefore, this study investigates the perceptions and related information demands regarding the four selected innovations, that is, wooden multi-story timber construction (WMC), biorefinery (BR), natural fiber reinforced composites (NFC), and nanocellulose (NC). A focus group discussion with future-oriented individuals representing potential future opinion leaders and a subsequent qualitative content analysis was used as the research method. The results show that the perception and information demand of the focus group participants differs between the innovations as a result of their market maturity. It was observed that the participants discussed WMC, a well-established innovation, in detail compared to NC, a quite recent innovation. The results suggest that the forest-based sector should consider individual and societal benefits when communicating the benefits of wood-based innovations.

From wood to food: Approaching stakeholder integration in forest-based biorefinery development / Vom Holz zum Lebensmittel: Ein Beitrag zur Integration von Stakeholdern bei der Entwicklung von Holz-Bioraffinerien

Summary The expansion of existing pulp mills with additional technology processing concepts to forest-based biorefineries implies high risks. A stakeholder-integrated strategy development is therefore more likely to open up such new business opportunities. Therefore, this paper aims to develop and verify a feasible approach. For this purpose, Porter’s deliberate strategy was extended in context of a case study on the production of hemicelluloses for value-added food markets. Considering two different strategies based on technological approaches, the case of pre-extraction can be given preference considering the interests of involved stakeholders regarding food additive marketing. The implementation process of a forest biorefinery remains widely case dependent, but nonetheless this paper provides some guidance concerning realization steps. The study proved that vast concordance between three different stakeholder groups can be achieved in case of two complex options. Hence, coordination of stakeholder interests is feasible in context of technology implementation strategy development.

Methods to Integrate Market Orientation in Technological Development: The Case of New Technologies to Produce Bioactive Substances from Wood

Abstract Technical research projects often target innovative high-value products. These products may serve dynamic and fast-growing markets. However, while the general demand for such products may ...

Valuation of technical fibres in composite applications – A non-linear regression-based approach

Fibre-reinforced composites are an important field of composite research and are used in an enormous range of applications from special high-tech applications such as aeronautics to consumer goods such as sporting goods. The objective of this study is to assess the monetary value of fibres to be used for reinforcement in composites by the relation of price and certain fibre properties. To model this, relationship data from different types of technical fibres were used. An economic approach is used to identify the determinants of fibre value. In total, four regression models were calculated. The models give an impression of the impact of the explanatory variables. This work shows that the evaluation of the economic value of a reinforcement fibre by technical properties is feasible.