What is Super Wood? A New Stronger, Greener Building Material Set to Launch

A new wood material called Super Wood could soon change the future of construction. Created by a startup named InventWood, this product may replace tropical hardwoods that come from forests in danger of deforestation.

What Is Super Wood?

Super Wood is made from normal timber. Regular wood has two main parts — cellulose and lignin. Scientists remove most of the lignin using safe, food-grade chemicals. Then, they compress the remaining wood. This creates strong bonds between the cellulose fibers.

The final result is stronger than steel. Super Wood has 50% more tensile strength than steel and a strength-to-weight ratio ten times greater. It is fire-rated, resists pests and rot, and does not need extra finishing.

Why It’s Important

Construction materials like steel and concrete create a lot of carbon emissions. Using Super Wood could cut these emissions. That makes buildings cheaper and more eco-friendly. Since it uses low-value and reclaimed trees, it also helps reduce waste.

The Scientist Behind It

Liangbing Hu, a materials expert at the University of Maryland, made the discovery in 2018. He found a way to turn regular wood into a much stronger version. Hu later partnered with InventWood, which is now setting up its first production facility.

A Factory Backed by Big Investors

InventWood is building a $15 million factory for mass production. Big climate-focused investment firms like Baruch Future Ventures, Builders VC, and Muus Climate Partners are backing the project.

What InventWood Says

InventWood says its process doesn’t add anything fake to the wood. It simply brings out the natural strength already inside the tree. CEO Alex Lau explained that their method doesn’t involve glue or plastic. They just compress the wood to boost the strength of the natural cellulose.

He added that Super Wood looks as beautiful as tropical hardwoods. But it’s made from cheaper, domestic sources, which saves both forests and money.

What’s Coming Next

InventWood plans to launch its first commercial Super Wood products by summer 2025. These products will include strong, ready-to-use beams that don’t need extra work. They hope to use wood chips and low-value timber, which will help reduce costs and waste.