New Report: Bio-Based Construction and the Role of Logistics

The study, Bio-based construction and the role of logistics – Foundations and case studies from Germany, Kenya, and Indonesia, examines supply chain structures and potentials across three countries and identifies three key insights:

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1. Supply chains for bio-based construction remain underdeveloped.
   Across Germany, Kenya, and Indonesia, there are significant gaps in processing capacity, logistics coordination, and material standardisation.
2. Inefficient logistics increase costs — particularly in emerging economies.
   In Kenya, logistics account for nearly half of the total cost of timber products, limiting affordability and market access.
3. Bio-based supply chains remain climate-positive, even across long distances.
   Transport emissions for timber are significantly lower than often assumed — even when shipped or trucked over long distances, timber retains a better carbon balance than locally produced concrete.

“Research and innovation in the field of bio-based materials are thriving. If companies can rely on stable market conditions, they will invest in cost-efficient production and make bio-based materials available at scale”  -Philipp Misselwitz, Bauhaus Earth

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The findings underline the importance of efficient integrated supply chains and well-designed logistics to reduce costs, strengthen markets, and accelerate the global shift toward a climate-positive construction sector.

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The full report "Bio-based construction and the role of logistics" is available for download here.