Local, Circular, Resilient: How Cambium is Shaping the Future of Material Supply Chains

At Rise of the Rest, we back companies building solutions that are both transformational and tangible. Cambium’s model is exactly that — redefining how supply chains function, starting with lumber.

When we first invested in Cambium, we were drawn to the clarity of the team’s vision: create a transparent and traceable logistics operating system that takes local, fallen trees (that would otherwise end up in landfills) and turns them into high-quality, lower carbon building materials. Now, as we double down on our investment, we know that this model isn’t just a clever idea — it’s a necessary reimagining of American supply chains.

A Moment That Demands Smarter Resource Networks

Our country’s supply chains are under stress. Years of offshoring, bottlenecks, and climate-driven disruptions have made it clear: we need to rethink where and how we source materials.

Wood is a perfect example. A massive portion of lumber used in the U.S. is imported, even as tens of millions of fallen and removed trees go to waste each year. Cambium’s approach — turning wood waste into high-utility products — cuts emissions, reduces dependency on long-haul sourcing, strengthens local economies, and reshores manufacturing jobs. Their model is also a proving ground for circular, local, and scalable supply chains, principles that apply to industries well beyond lumber.

A Business Model That’s Working

Cambium’s Carbon Smart Wood™ is already demonstrating that sustainability, utility, beauty, and scalability can all go hand in hand. Cambium has partnered with brands, developers, and mass timber manufacturers seeking high-quality materials with reduced carbon footprints — not just as an ethical choice, but as a sound business strategy.

The numbers tell the story:

• Every year, the U.S. generates approximately 45 million tons of tree waste, the equivalent of 7.2 billion board feet of usable wood.
• Reclaiming wood significantly reduces carbon emissions. Examples like the Wood First recycling initiative in Sweden show that a 50% reduction in construction-related carbon emissions can be achieved by repurposing urban wood for public construction projects.
• Despite this potential, more than 30 million tons of recoverable wood still go to waste annually. Cambium is working to change that, creating a playbook for reimagined resource and material networks.

Scaling a Better System

A recurring theme among the 150+ startups we’ve backed is that, often, the country’s biggest challenges are the most compelling innovation opportunities. Cambium is proof that supply chains can be both more resilient and more sustainable without compromising on quality or cost.

With its latest funding round, Cambium is poised to scale the development of its supply chain technology platform and expand into new offerings, including Mass Timber. To talk about what’s next, I sat down with CEO Ben Christensen.