On 31^st of July 2024, EcoRefibre held an open webinar to present some of the latest research findings conducted by the Ecole Supérieure du Bois (ESB), a research partner of the project. In the webinar, the ESB team—Zeynep Galitekin, Edanur Solhan, and Flore Lebreton, under the guidance of Mark Irle—discussed topics related to wood-based panel waste classification, sorting, and recycling across Europe, with a specific focus on medium-density fibreboards (MDF). 

Fibreboard waste analysis around Europe: 

ESB, in particular, has been analysing the volumes and characteristics of MDF consumed in Europe, where the quantities of fibreboard waste have been increasing. To date, most wood waste samples have come from 71 piles across France, particularly centered around the Nantes area, where ESB is located. Besides, ESB has received samples from wood-waste piles in Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and Germany. The percentage of fibreboard in these waste wood piles ranged from 4% in France to 18.5% in Sweden. 

In addition to quantity, the quality and proportion of fibreboards present in European waste streams are also analysed. Preliminary results indicate that the average lifespan of fibreboard is about 12 years, a figure used to estimate what proportion of the products has become waste over time. After 45 years, 99% of fibreboard products are expected to become waste. 

An assessment of non-wood components:  

One of the biggest challenges in recycling wood-based panels stems from the fact that wood is not the sole component of these panels. ESB conducted an analysis of coatings found on fibreboards of various ages. Alongside wood, these panels contain glue and various chemicals, such as fire retardants. ESB is particularly studying older coatings to determine whether these samples are contaminated, specifically with heavy metals. Such contamination may result from industry standards applied in the past. 

Preliminary findings on the number of times waste fibres can be recycled:  

Wood fibres can be recycled several times. While this study has not reached final conclusions, the recycling of fibres was carried out six times by the time of the webinar. However, it’s not just about the number of recycling cycles, as with each generation, the fibreboard’s resistance to applied stress, such as bending, decreases. Additionally, any recycling effort requires materials, which inevitably leads to some degree of material ‘loss’ during the process. 

The webinar’s complete presentation can be found in EcoRefibre’s Zendo community. 

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