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PalletCentral • May-June 2022 31 can even help tackle climate change thanks to their recyclable nature and ability to store carbon. As such, wood carries a lower environmental footprint than steel and concrete. Given the clear benefits of lumber, the FPL continues to research ways of boosting its efficiency and sustainability. Forest Biorefinery Wooded areas represent some of the world's richest sources of biological chemicals and fuels. What's more, they don't require pesticides or fertilizer like other sources of biological by-products such as corn and rice. As such, the FPL is committed to researching how to enhance bio-refinery technologies to produce valuable chemicals and fuels for transportation. Currently, biological products are produced by hydrolyzing wood into sugars. ese sugars are then fermented to create ethanol or other fermented substances. e FPL is researching new ways to modify yeast DNA to boost the level of ethanol produced during this process. In many ways, this research couldn't come at a better time. As wooded land fills up with overcrowded trees and wooded waste, we're presented with new opportunities to clean up the forest and satisfy an ever-growing need for alternative fuels. However, harvesting biomass for the production of chemicals and fuels is costly and time-consuming. As such, we must find more cost-effective ways to remove biomass from forests. Nanotechnology Nanotechnology represents a cutting-edge field within the multi-disciplinary spheres of science and technology. Broadly speaking, it refers to the analysis and engineering of matter at the molecular and atomic scales. To put the practice into perspective, a nano-meter is equivalent to one billionth of a meter. So, how does nanotechnology relate to forestry and wood products? Well, scientists are currently researching and developing wood-related materials and systems that comprise different chemical, physical, and biological properties than materials found on a bigger scale. Researchers at FPL, for example, are conducting studies at the nano-scale to explore under-explored components of wood. There are plenty of innovative ways for communities and businesses to utilize wood and forest by-products.