Swiss pilot project for carbon removal credits from timber buildings

Untapped potential in the forest

According to Lignum, building with timber, together with the sequestration performed by forests, quickly and cheaply creates a long-term sink for atmospheric carbon. On top of that comes the substitution of emission-intensive materials. Switzerland regularly harvests only about half of its annual growth of around 10 million cubic metres, although some 8 million would be usable. At the time there was no globally established methodology to certify the carbon held in timber structures. Timber Finance had been developing one since 2022, initially for the Swiss market, with the aim of international recognition by the end of 2024.

Credits for the carbon held in timber buildings could speed up this process.

The terms of the pilot phase

The pilot phase was to resolve questions of additionality, double counting and permanence. The timber had to come from sustainably managed forests, verified by PEFC or FSC certification or by proof of origin with a risk assessment. Timber Finance was looking for 15 to 20 regionally diverse projects with at least 300 cubic metres of timber. Developers, architects, engineers and general and turnkey contractors could take part, with declarations due by the end of March.

How Timber Carbon sees it

Since then, the pilot has become a process under the ICVCM-approved Rainbow Standard and its «Biobased Construction Materials» methodology. Timber Carbon, launched in 2026 as a spin-off of Timber Finance, quantifies, certifies and monetises the carbon removed in mass timber buildings as carbon removal credits on the voluntary carbon market. Our Technology page explains the details.