Europe's forest-based industries face a dual challenge: climate-related disturbances are increasing the availability of low-value wood and forest residues, while regulatory and market requirements are demanding greater traceability, resource efficiency and lower-impact production. 

The VALORLEGNO project is addressing these challenges through an integrated circular innovation model developed in the Veneto Region of Italy: 

• One research strand focuses on creating higher-value uses for low-value wood and forest by-products. The project has mapped European technological and logistical solutions and produced 20 technology factsheets covering pathways such as bio-based materials and biochar.
• Digital traceability is another core element: the WoodSwap prototype uses blockchain technology to record material flows along the wood chain. 
• Circular construction is being addressed through dry, reversible foundation systems for timber buildings. Engineered-wood connections will reduce conventional metal components and facilitate future disassembly and reuse, and an innovative wall system with inclined layers could reduce wood use and structural metal reinforcements by 20–30%.
• Forest residues are used as functional materials for water treatment. VALORLEGNO has developed a mineral-biochar adsorbent and is working on a filtration system for groundwater contaminated by PFAS, where the spent filtering granules can be reused as lightweight aggregates in construction.

The project shows how a regional forest-based value chain can connect circular bioeconomy, digital traceability and design for disassembly in a single innovation ecosystem. Activities will continue until April 2027.

VALORLEGNO brings together the Regional Innovative Networks ForestaOroVeneto and Veneto Green Cluster, companies from the wood and environmental technology sectors, and researchers from the Universities of Padua and Verona. The project is supported under the 2021–2027 European Regional Development Fund's Veneto regional programme.