CLEAR – A preliminary framework for the ISO standard on the climate impact of wood-based products

Updated 20251111

The forest can absorb carbon dioxide to store in biomass and soil. The use of wood-based products is also an important part of reducing our climate impact, i.e. by avoiding emissions from more fossil-intensive products.

In this context, it is important to be able to give a coherent picture of forestry's climate impact. The climate impact of forest and wood-based products, both as a carbon sink in forests and products and avoiding potential emissions from more fossil-intensive products, must be included to avoid sub-optimising the work towards the climate goals.

CLEAR (CLimate Effect Assessment and Reporting) was a reporting model for assessing the climate impact of wood-based products, taking all these aspects into account. It was based on a methodology developed by Swedish forest companies for use in annual sustainability reports.

CLEAR and ISO 13391

Parts of the CLEAR methodology are incorporated in the international standard series Wood and wood-based products – Greenhouse gas dynamics (ISO 13391), published in April 2025.

With the publication of the ISO standard series, development and active management of CLEAR has been discontinued. Consequently, for support in future assessment and reporting, please refer to ISO 13391 Parts 1-3.

Both CLEAR and ISO 13391 include the following four components of greenhouse gas uptake and emissions:

1. Value chain emissions
   Value chain emissions resulting from production and placement of wood-based products on the market, including recycling and final use, are assessed.
2. Prevented emissions
   Greenhouse gas emissions potentially avoided because of the use of wood-based products instead of more climate-intensive products are calculated.
3. Change in forest carbon stock
   The change in carbon stored in the forest from which timber was taken to produce the wood-based products is assessed.
4. Change in product carbon stock
   Changes in the carbon stock in wood-based products in use in society is assessed.

Access to previous materials

The former CLEAR manual along with a preliminary Excel template for calculations are still available for download (see below under “Read more”).