The overall objective of the study is to define the cascading use of wood and assess its environmental and socio-economic impacts, to analyse barriers to cascade and possible measures adapted to local conditions to overcome them in the European Union. The results of the study will serve as a basis to develop good practice guidance on the cascading use of wood to the policymakers and value chain stakeholders for the wider application of the cascading use of wood.

Specifically, the study will:

1. improve the understanding of the meaning, existing application and impacts of the different application of the cascading use of wood in the EU and in Member States. This includes working out its definition (including with reference to non-wood materials) and identifying and assessing its impacts based on environmental and socio-economic criteria and various stakeholders' interests, including its pros and cons;

2. identify and assess the impacts of barriers to wider application of the cascade in the EU Member States, including impact of public support to energy sector on possible distortion of the functioning of the wood market and its cascading use and of other economical, technical and logistical barriers;

3. identify and assess different measures and decision criteria and good practice examples for a wider application of the cascade that are implementable at the EU, Member State, regional and local levels according to the local circumstances.