Transparent wood: Energy-saving timber

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• August 29, 2024

Insight summary

Transparent wood emerges as an eco-friendly choice over traditional materials like glass and plastic, offering a sustainable twist to modern construction and technology. This material not only retains the strength of wood but also allows light to pass through, thanks to a special process that replaces the wood's natural color-giving polymer with synthetic alternatives. With its insulating properties and potential for enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, transparent wood is carving a niche in the construction industry and smart building applications.

Transparent wood context

Transparent wood offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials like glass and plastic. Creating transparent wood involves a unique process where wood strips are treated, and their natural polymer, lignin (which gives wood its color), is replaced with synthetic polymers. This transformation not only maintains the wood's inherent strength but also makes it light-transmissive. Research teams from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and the University of Maryland in the US have enhanced this material's applications, from structural features to potential uses in electronics.

The properties of transparent wood are distinctive, including low thermal conductivity, low density, and high optical transmittance, which collectively contribute to its utility in innovative architectural solutions. For instance, due to its excellent insulating properties, transparent wood can be used for smart windows that enhance energy efficiency in buildings. A 2019 study demonstrated how adding polyvinyl alcohol to the wood significantly reduces its heat conductivity, making it a superior insulator compared to traditional glass.

Applications of transparent wood extend beyond construction into energy savings and electronics. French startup Woodoo has explored the use of transparent wood in making durable and recyclable touch-sensitive screens, reflecting a shift towards more sustainable technology solutions. Moreover, ongoing research continues to expand the potential of transparent wood in smart building applications, where it can adjust its opacity to control lighting and heat. 

Disruptive impact

As a strong, insulating alternative to glass, transparent wood can enhance the natural light in homes while maintaining privacy and reducing the reliance on artificial lighting. This feature could lead to lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint for homeowners. Additionally, the material's durability and safety features, such as its impact resistance, provide long-term savings on maintenance and replacement costs.

For the construction and manufacturing sectors, transparent wood presents an opportunity to develop new products that combine sustainability with performance. Companies can integrate transparent wood in eco-friendly building materials and novel interior design products, potentially capturing a growing market of environmentally conscious consumers. However, businesses may need to invest in research and development to optimize the production process for larger-scale applications, which may initially drive up costs. Over time, as the technology matures and production efficiency increases, firms that have pioneered this technology may enjoy a competitive advantage.

Governments might offer tax incentives or subsidies for buildings incorporating sustainable materials like transparent wood, promoting its adoption. Global policies could focus on standardizing the production of transparent wood to ensure environmental compliance and encourage international trade in sustainable building materials. By supporting the development and integration of transparent wood, governments can not only advance ecological goals but also foster innovation and job creation in the green technology sector.

Implications of transparent wood

Wider implications of transparent wood may include: 

• An increase in job opportunities in the forestry and materials science sectors due to the need for specialized production and processing techniques for transparent wood.


• A reduction in the use of non-renewable materials like glass and plastic in construction, leading to decreased environmental degradation and waste.


• New educational programs and courses in universities focusing on sustainable materials, enhancing student preparedness for green jobs.


• A rise in property values for buildings incorporating transparent wood, due to their enhanced energy efficiency and aesthetic appeal.


• New subsidies for construction projects using sustainable materials, leading to faster adoption of transparent wood.


• Increased research funding for enhancing the mechanical properties of bio-based materials, leading to more advanced applications of transparent wood.


• A growth in consumer advocacy for environmental sustainability, leading to greater public support for companies producing transparent wood.

Questions to consider

• How could transparent wood change your home's energy consumption and costs?


• How might local businesses in your area benefit from adopting transparent wood in their construction projects?