Solid Wood and Wood Based Composites: The Challenge of Sustainability Looking for a Short and Smart Supply Chain

The paper takes into account the most important wood based products used in architecture, structural engineering and design. The amount of roundwood, sawnwood and wood panel production is analysed and forest certification is reported as possible tool to ensure a sustainable forest management, fighting illegal logging and deforestation. A smart review of the most used wood-based products is performed together with the chance to activate a modern short supply chain. The state of art of the wood species actually used is considered together with most important actual challenges addressed to obtain sustainable wood-based products referring to eco-friendly process of gluing and increasing durability. The possibility to use short chain species for structural purposes is reported looking to Italian case studies (chestnut, eucalyptus and pines). A lot of successful prototypes and products have been obtained using short supply species, but research still is needed on the most type or products especially if they are to be used for structural purposes.