Cascading of woody biomass: definitions, policies and effects on international trade

This research paper examines the concept of 'cascading' woody biomass, focusing on the principle that material use of wood should be prioritized over energy use, particularly within the European Union. It analyzes the terminology, policy implementation, and potential risks to international bioenergy markets, concluding that without harmonized rules, such policies may lead to regulatory loopholes and legislative complexity.

• The core principle of cascading woody biomass is that the use of wood for materials should take priority over its use for energy.
• Implementing the cascading principle may lead to complex legislative processes, particularly regarding the agreement on which types of woody biomass are designated for material use versus energy use.
• A lack of harmonized rules across the EU and North America could compromise the efficacy of cascading policies, as market actors might exploit regulatory loopholes rather than improving performance.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2016). Cascading of woody biomass: definitions, policies and effects on international trade. https://www.sei.org/publications/cascading-of-woody-biomass-definitions-policies-and-effects-on-international-trade/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Cascading of woody biomass: definitions, policies and effects on international trade. 2016. https://www.sei.org/publications/cascading-of-woody-biomass-definitions-policies-and-effects-on-international-trade/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Cascading of woody biomass: definitions, policies and effects on international trade |date=9 May 2016 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/cascading-of-woody-biomass-definitions-policies-and-effects-on-international-trade/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2016cascading, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Cascading of woody biomass: definitions, policies and effects on international trade}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2016}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/cascading-of-woody-biomass-definitions-policies-and-effects-on-international-trade/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }