Potential for wider adoption of wood fiber insulation in building construction

Abstract

As Europe advances toward low-carbon construction, bio-based materials like wood fiber insulation (WFI) are gaining traction as viable alternatives to conventional insulations. Industrial timber construction presents a strategic context for deploying WFI due to its compatibility with prefabrication and sustainability goals. This study explores the adoption potential of fire-retardant WFI through a qualitative, grounded theory approach based on expert interviews conducted in six European countries. The objective is to examine the relationship between WFI’s technical performance and the regulatory frameworks that govern its approval and market entry. The research offers a novel contribution by identifying critical gaps between WFI’s documented strengths, including fire resistance, thermal regulation, and moisture buffering—and regulatory assessment methods that were developed with non-bio-based materials in mind. These systemic mismatches create significant barriers to innovation and material diversification in sustainable construction. Three key findings emerged: (1) Current technical assessment protocols inadequately capture the real-world performance of WFI; (2) Environmental sustainability acts as a catalyst for innovation and material substitution; (3) Education and policy alignment are crucial to overcoming institutional inertia and advancing market uptake. A conceptual model is developed to illustrate the barriers and enablers influencing WFI integration. This study concludes that performance-based evaluation systems and policy incentives are essential to unlocking the full potential of WFI in climate-responsive construction. These insights are intended to inform regulators, industry stakeholders, and researchers, contributing to the broader discourse on ecological material transitions.