America throws away more trees than most people understand. Approximately 36 million trees fall every year, including storms, diseases and urban development. The United States also stirs up about 18.1 million tons of timber waste per year, most of which is burned or thrown into landfills. Instead of reusing this valuable resource, we are creating unnecessary emissions and waste.
While many startups are racing to build the next AI-driven tool or robotics breakthrough, Cambium is tackling issues based on the physical world. Instead of chasing virtual solutions, the founders of Cambium focus on something concrete. It’s about turning discarded trees into usable resources.
The Baltimore-based startup uses technology to track, recycle and reintroduce recovered wood into its supply chain. Cambium calls it a platform called “where wood meets technology.”
Cambium CEO Ben Christensen shared that the company’s origins are very personal and dates back to its upbringing in the countryside of New Mexico. He explained that growth surrounded by woodworking and science gave him a strong foundation for sustainable wood use and climate action. Over time, he became devoted to understanding the important challenges posed by the mismanagement of wood waste.
“The Cambium story was immersed in woodworking and science in rural New Mexico, so I spent quite a bit of time learning about the range of wood use and climate challenges.
Founder of Cambium
Christensen also told CNBC in an interview: “It makes it very easy to source wood that would otherwise have been wasted, and we’ll build technology for the timber industry, save materials, create new jobs, and enable us to deal with climate change on a large scale.”
Every part of Cambium’s “Carbon Smart” wood has a barcode. A quick scan of the company’s app reveals when the wood seeds are crushed and their grade. That transparency makes it easier for businesses to source sustainable materials without guesswork.
Cambium’s system is more than just tracking. That is to efficiently move that material in the US and parts of Canada. The company coordinates with major brands such as Tree Care Services, Trucking Company, Sawmills, Amazon, CBRE, Gensler, Room & Board.
“We help truckers adjust their luggage so that they can actually move this material, and help them supply it and track it when they actually use it in the sawmill, and eventually sell that material as well,” Christensen said.
There are local timber recycling personnel, but no one is working on supply chain issues nationwide. Christensen believes that Cambium is doing just that with the ambition to expand globally. Investors are paying attention.
“For us, as a venture capitalist looking to invest in a business that could be a billion dollar business a month, this meets all the criteria,” said Adrian Fenty, founding management partner at Mac Venture Capital.
Cambium secures $28.5 million to expand technology-driven wood recycling
Cambium has drawn $28.5 million in funding from supporters, including Volo Earth Ventures, NEA and Revolution’s Rest of the Rest Seed Fund. According to Christensen, the demand for recycled wood is substantial. If all the discarded wood in the United States is rescued, it can meet almost half of the country’s total material needs.
The company’s revenues have been rising, with sales doubling last year. The biggest boost comes from the software business and helps you manage the process of moving, tracking and selling recycled wood. Christensen points out that the appeal of Cambium to Silicon Valley investors is not just about wood, but about software.
“We don’t want to invest in timber companies, so it’s important for Silicon Valley investors,” Fenty says. “I don’t want to invest in a construction company.”
Cambium faces challenges such as trade policies that affect the industry. For example, tariffs on wood in Canada created hurdles, particularly in the northeastern US.
“We are moving materials to sawmills 10 or 20 miles across the border, so obviously trade policy affects how that material moves,” Christensen said.
Still, the company bets that technology can restructure how wood waste is handled, turning what’s been discarded into something worthwhile.
Cambium Team
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