Meta 用木蓋大樓 減碳又時尚

Facebook、Instagram 與 WhatsApp 的母公司 Meta 宣布，將「交錯層壓木」（Mass Timber）正式納入低碳建築策略，作為其實現 2030 年供應鏈淨零排放目標的重要一步。該公司同時也是洛磯山研究所（Rocky Mountain Institute, RMI）「永續鋼材買家平台」的成員，並曾在資料中心試點使用低碳混凝土，顯示其在建築減碳領域採取多元化策略。

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced that it will officially incorporate mass timber into its low-carbon building strategy - an important step toward achieving its 2030 net-zero emissions goal for its supply chain. The company is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI) Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform and has previously piloted the use of low-carbon concrete in its data centers, reflecting a diversified approach to reducing carbon emissions in construction.

根據 Meta 公布的數據，在行政辦公大樓中採用交錯層壓木，可使「隱含碳排」減少 41%。「隱含碳排」是指建材在全生命週期中——從原料開採、製造、運輸、施工到最終拆除與處置——所產生的溫室氣體排放。RMI 指出，與傳統的混凝土和鋼材相比，木材在生命週期的碳排放量通常更低，且由於質量較輕，所需地基混凝土用量也能同步減少，進一步降低整體碳足跡。

According to data released by Meta, using mass timber in administrative office buildings can reduce “embodied carbon” by 41%. Embodied carbon refers to greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout a building material’s entire life cycle - from raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation to construction, demolition, and disposal. RMI notes that, compared with traditional concrete and steel, timber typically has a lower life-cycle carbon footprint, and its lighter weight can also reduce the amount of concrete needed for foundations, further lowering the overall carbon footprint.

Meta 在官方部落格中強調：「與製造鋼材和混凝土相比，採用可持續方式取得的木材、進行鋸切加工並製造成適用於工業用途的建材，其碳排放量通常低得多。低碳材料如交錯層壓木，是我們邁向淨零未來的關鍵要素。」

On its official blog, Meta emphasized: “Compared to manufacturing steel and concrete, sustainably sourced timber that is sawn, processed, and manufactured for industrial use typically results in significantly lower emissions. Low-carbon materials like mass timber are a key part of our journey toward a net-zero future.”

首批示範與未來布局

今年，Meta 已在南卡羅來納州艾肯郡（Aiken County）園區完成首棟使用交錯層壓木的行政大樓。該項目由 SmartLam 提供木材，施工則由 DPR 建設公司負責。

接下來，Meta 將與 Fortis Construction 和 Mercer Mass Timber 合作，在懷俄明州夏安（Cheyenne）園區興建更多交錯層壓木建築；同時，由 Hensel Phelps 與 Binderholz 承擔阿拉巴馬州蒙哥馬利（Montgomery）園區的工程。Meta 表示，未來計畫在更多行政大樓、倉庫及資料中心機房中引入交錯層壓木的應用，逐步擴大低碳建築比例。

First Projects and Future Plans

Earlier this year, Meta completed its first administrative building using mass timber at its campus in Aiken County, South Carolina. The timber was supplied by SmartLam, and construction was carried out by DPR Construction.

Looking ahead, Meta will work with Fortis Construction and Mercer Mass Timber to build additional mass timber facilities at its campus in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and with Hensel Phelps and Binderholz for projects in Montgomery, Alabama. The company says it plans to expand the use of mass timber in more administrative buildings, warehouses, and data center facilities, gradually increasing the share of low-carbon construction.

Industry and Environmental Significance

Mass timber, a new type of engineered wood, is made by cross-laminating and pressing layers of timber into large panels. It not only offers high strength and durability but also serves as a carbon sink, storing the CO₂ absorbed by the trees during growth. This technology is already widely adopted in parts of Europe and North America and is considered a viable alternative to certain reinforced concrete structures.

產業與環境意義

交錯層壓木作為一種新型工程木材，透過將木板交叉層壓後壓合成大型板材，不僅具有高強度與耐久性，還能作為碳匯，長期儲存木材在生長過程中吸收的二氧化碳。這項技術已在歐洲及北美部分地區廣泛應用，被視為取代部分鋼筋混凝土結構的可行方案。

專家指出，對於如 Meta 這類高耗能產業而言，建築基礎設施的碳排放雖不及伺服器運行或供電規模，但其「隱含碳」減排潛力仍不容忽視。由於資料中心與辦公園區的建設屬於長期資產，一旦採用低碳建材，其效益將在數十年內持續存在。

Experts note that for high-energy-consuming industries like Meta, the carbon emissions from building infrastructure may be smaller compared to those from server operations or electricity consumption, but the potential for embodied carbon reduction should not be overlooked. Since data centers and corporate campuses are long-term assets, adopting low-carbon building materials can yield benefits that last for decades.

全球趨勢與挑戰

Global Trends and Challenges

根據國際能源署（IEA）資料，全球建築業佔二氧化碳排放量的比重約達 37%，其中約三分之一來自建材的生產與運輸。推動交錯層壓木的使用，不僅可直接減排，也可帶動可持續林業發展。然而，該產業仍面臨供應鏈穩定性、成本控制及防火安全標準等挑戰。

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global building sector accounts for roughly 37% of CO₂ emissions, with about one-third coming from the production and transportation of building materials. Promoting the use of mass timber can directly reduce emissions while also supporting sustainable forestry. However, the industry still faces challenges such as supply chain stability, cost control, and compliance with fire safety standards.

Meta 的舉措反映出科技巨頭在面對碳中和承諾時，正從能源採購、運營效率延伸到建築材料選擇的全方位策略。業界分析認為，隨著更多企業採取相似做法，交錯層壓木市場將有望進一步擴張，並加速相關製造與施工技術的成熟。

Meta’s initiative reflects how tech giants are addressing carbon neutrality commitments with a comprehensive strategy - extending beyond energy procurement and operational efficiency to the selection of building materials. Industry analysts believe that as more companies follow suit, the mass timber market could expand significantly, accelerating advancements in related manufacturing and construction technologies.