Mapping the wood flows of Italy throughout the value chain for 2018

Understanding national wood flows is essential for assessing the sustainability and efficiency of a forest-based bioeconomy, as well as evaluating its possible impacts on decarbonization processes. This study develops a comprehensive material flow analysis model for Italy’s forest-wood sector in 2018, by integrating a wide range of official statistics, trade data, and sector-specific knowledge. A system dynamics approach is applied to harmonize upstream and downstream flows, quantify hidden flows, and convert economic values into physical ones. The model extends the mapping of wood flow to include final downstream uses, trade in the consumption stage, and emerging sectors such as green chemistry. It also estimates bioenergy consumption and the removals of fuelwood associated with that. The results of the model show that the total removals of Italian forests in 2018 amounted to 17.26 million m ³ , of which approximately 87% consisted of fuelwood. Nearly 90% of domestic supply of sawnwood, veneer, and plywood depends on imported wood either directly through the import of these products and indirectly through the import of industrial roundwood used as raw material for their production, whereas the panel sector utilizes 67% recycled wood and the paper sector relies on 57% recycled paper. To our best knowledge, this work provides the first complete and operational representation of Italy’s forest-wood value chain and could serve as a decision-support tool for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to enhance climate and resource-use policy in the wood sector.