THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH: INTERDISCIPLINARY + PRACTICAL
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The FITFORWOOD research project examines how circular timber construction can contribute to the sustainable transformation of cities. The project focuses on the question of how cities—particularly medium-sized cities—can specifically promote timber construction while at the same time integrating the principles of the circular economy more fully into planning and construction processes.

The construction sector plays a central role in climate protection, as it contributes significantly to resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Wood, as a renewable raw material, offers great potential in this area—especially when materials are not only used but also reused and kept in the cycle for as long as possible. This is precisely where FITFORWOOD comes in.

The project takes a practice-oriented approach: it analyzes experiences from pioneering cities, identifies success factors, and applies them to other urban contexts. In doing so, FITFORWOOD combines scientific methods with close collaboration with relevant stakeholders from politics, government, business, and civil society.

A key component of the project is the development of concrete approaches and tools to support cities in implementing circular timber construction. These include, among other things, an analysis of the policy framework, exploratory interviews with experts, and the development of a practical assessment tool.

FITFORWOOD is a joint project of the University of Freiburg and the European Forest Institute and is scheduled to run for three years. The goal is to develop sound insights and practical solutions that contribute to promoting climate-friendly and resource-efficient construction methods in cities.