A case study of the regional bioeconomy in Central Germany: Construction with renewable resources

Abstract

National and international policies focus on climate protection, resource efficiency and sustainability. The bioeconomy is seen as future-oriented field of innovation that can reconcile ecological and economic development. Building with renewable resources as part of the bioeconomy also contributes and is a key element of the global Sustainable Development Goal 11 'Sustainable Cities and Communities'. The study complements the national biomass monitoring in Germany with a regional insight into construction with renewable resources in Central Germany. It addresses practical challenges, theoretical approaches and political goals of the construction sector in Central Germany. Sectors with a high level of employment in the region and/or with a regional specificity will be examined. In 2020, 81,506 employees covered by social security were employed in the forestry, wood and construction industries in the federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Thuringia. This corresponds to a total share of two per cent of total employment in the federal states. Around 11,700 enterprises subject to value added tax are specialised herein. The region has extensive timber resources: 14.7 million m³ of hard- and softwood were harvested in the federal states in 2021. Industry trends include an increasing construction of timber buildings, use of wood as a renewable carbon source in the chemical industry and a rise in the use of wood-based packaging. This is accompanied by increased competition for the use of resources and brings potentials for innovation that can lead to economic growth and is being supported at the political level.