Can 'Super Wood' Replace Steel and Revolutionize Construction?

FREDERICK, MD – December 02, 2025 – In the relentless search for materials that can build a more sustainable future, a small Maryland-based company may have just unlocked one of nature's oldest secrets. InventWood, a materials science innovator, has earned a coveted spot on Inc.'s 2025 Best in Business list, celebrated in the ‘Best in Innovation’ category for its groundbreaking product: SUPERWOOD. This isn't just another engineered wood product; it's a fundamental reinvention of timber itself, boasting properties that challenge the dominance of steel and concrete in the construction industry.

The recognition from Inc., a publication dedicated to chronicling entrepreneurial achievement, signals a pivotal moment for the company. It validates not only a decade of intensive research but also a strategic vision to disrupt one of the world's largest and most carbon-intensive sectors. As industries globally grapple with the urgent need to decarbonize, InventWood’s innovation arrives as a compelling, tangible solution grown from the earth.

The Science of a Stronger Forest

At the heart of InventWood's acclaim is a patented process that transforms ordinary, domestically sourced wood into an extraordinary high-performance material. Born from a decade of research led by materials scientist Dr. Liangbing Hu at the University of Maryland, the technology behind SUPERWOOD operates at the molecular level. The process begins by chemically removing lignin, the natural polymer that gives wood its rigidity but also its weaknesses, while preserving the strong cellulose nanofibers within.

Following this chemical modification, the wood is subjected to a precision densification process. By compressing the porous structure, the cellulose fibers are packed tightly together, creating powerful new hydrogen bonds. The result is a material that is up to four times denser, five times thinner, and an astonishing twelve times stronger and ten times tougher than its original state. The final product retains the warmth, texture, and aesthetic beauty of natural wood but with a performance profile that seems almost paradoxical.

SUPERWOOD's specifications read like a wish list for architects and engineers. Its strength-to-weight ratio is nearly ten times greater than steel, with a tensile strength of approximately 600 megapascals, comfortably outperforming many steel variants. Perhaps most impressively, its dense structure gives it a Class A fire rating—the highest classification for fire resistance—and self-extinguishing properties without the use of chemical flame retardants. By starving potential flames of oxygen, the material effectively chokes a fire before it can spread. Furthermore, the tightly packed fibers create a formidable barrier against moisture, rot, and pests, addressing the age-old vulnerabilities of traditional timber.

From Lab to Market: A Story of Strategic Growth

The journey from a university lab to a nationally recognized innovator has been fueled by strategic planning and significant financial backing. The Inc. Best in Business award, which honors companies for “groundbreaking innovations” and “sizable impact,” is a powerful public validation of InventWood's commercial potential. As Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc., noted of the awardees, “their projects and initiatives had a sizable impact on their company and even on their industry at large, making them worthy of this honor.”

This external validation is mirrored by robust investor confidence. InventWood has secured over $65 million in capital, a blend of non-dilutive government grants and venture capital that underscores its dual appeal as both a critical climate technology and a promising business venture. A cornerstone of this support came in 2022 with a $20 million SCALEUP award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program, designed to help promising energy technologies bridge the gap from lab to market.

More recently, a $15 million Series A funding round led by the Grantham Foundation, a prominent investor in climate solutions, has provided the capital necessary to transition from research and development to full-scale commercialization. This funding is directly supporting the launch of InventWood's first manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland. With commercial production slated to begin in mid-2025 and the first shipments expected in the third quarter, the company is on the cusp of turning its scientific breakthrough into a market reality.

Building the Future on a Biogenic Foundation

InventWood's innovation extends beyond material science into the realm of environmental stewardship. The construction industry is a colossal contributor to global CO2 emissions, responsible for nearly 40% of the world's total. The production of traditional materials like steel and concrete is incredibly energy-intensive; for every ton of steel produced, nearly two tons of CO2 are emitted. SUPERWOOD offers a radically different paradigm.

As a biogenic material, it is part of a natural carbon cycle. The wood used to create SUPERWOOD has already captured and stored atmospheric carbon during its growth. By locking that carbon into the structure of a building for decades, the material acts as a carbon sink. The company claims its production process results in 90% lower carbon emissions than steel manufacturing, offering a direct and scalable path to reducing the embodied carbon in new construction.

By utilizing domestically sourced wood, InventWood also aims to support the health of American forests and promote sustainable forestry practices. This approach not only strengthens local supply chains but also aligns with the growing demand for green building certifications like LEED, which increasingly prioritize materials with low environmental impact and transparent sourcing. As architects and builders face mounting pressure from regulators and clients to adopt more sustainable practices, SUPERWOOD is positioned as a premium solution that doesn't compromise on performance.

Navigating the Path to Adoption

Despite its revolutionary potential, SUPERWOOD faces the familiar hurdles of any disruptive technology. The construction industry is notoriously conservative and slow to change, with established supply chains and building codes built around conventional materials. Educating architects, engineers, and contractors about the properties and applications of a completely new material class will be a significant undertaking. Furthermore, achieving cost-competitiveness with mass-produced commodities like steel and concrete will depend on InventWood's ability to rapidly scale its manufacturing capacity.

However, the drivers for adoption are powerful. The material’s superior performance characteristics—its unparalleled strength, durability, and resistance to fire and water—provide a compelling functional argument. When combined with its significant environmental benefits and aesthetic appeal, the value proposition becomes difficult to ignore. The company's initial focus will likely be on high-value applications where performance and sustainability are paramount, allowing it to establish a foothold before expanding into the broader market.

With its first factory preparing to ship product in 2025, InventWood is no longer a theoretical concept. It is a tangible business poised to challenge industry norms. The recognition from Inc. is more than just an award; it's a spotlight on a future where our buildings are not only stronger and more resilient but are also active participants in creating a healthier planet.