Prime Highlights:
36 million trees are lost every year due to decay, disease, natural disasters, or development, with most wood being discarded or wasted.
Cambium’s platform uses technology to track, recycle, and repurpose reclaimed wood, making it a game-changer in the wood recycling industry.
Key Background:
Cambium, a startup based in Baltimore, is pioneering a technology-driven solution to tackle the global issue of wood waste. Every year, approximately 36 million trees are lost due to decay, disease, natural disasters, or land development. Traditionally, these trees end up in landfills, incinerated, or ground into mulch, resulting in significant energy waste and carbon emissions. Cambium aims to disrupt this wasteful cycle by developing a national platform to recycle and repurpose reclaimed wood.
The company’s innovative technology enables the identification, tracking, and recycling of wood on a scale never previously attempted. Each piece of Cambium’s recycled wood is tagged with a barcode that can be scanned through the company’s app to provide information about its species, milling history, and grade. This system ensures that reclaimed wood can be efficiently sourced, transported, and integrated into the supply chain.
Cambium works with local tree care services, trucking companies, and sawmills, as well as high-profile clients like Amazon, CBRE, and Gensler. The company facilitates the movement of recycled wood across the United States and parts of Canada, addressing the logistical challenges of wood recycling and creating new jobs in the process. CEO Ben Christensen emphasizes the company’s goal of using technology to address material waste, create local employment, and contribute to the fight against climate change.
With $28.5 million in funding, Cambium is experiencing rapid growth, particularly in its software solutions. Investors see great potential in Cambium’s model, which combines technology and sustainability in a way that could scale globally. As the company continues to expand, it aims to revolutionize the wood recycling industry and become a significant player in the fight against climate change.
