Sustainable solutions for biomass plates
There is a high market demand for wood-based panels, such as medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood and oriented strand board. The panels provide functionality in various areas of industry, from construction to furniture production. Today, there are a number of challenges in the wood-based panel industry: rising raw material prices and growing customer demands for product safety. The wood-based panel industry will grow by around 14% globally over the next five years, while many regions are also beginning to realize the need to use natural resources more sustainably. The European Union has adopted a Green Deal, under which the countries of the European Union are committed to decoupling economic growth from resource consumption. This policy forces manufacturing companies to look for secondary raw materials, such as established furniture supply chains and production lines adapted to these new raw materials. This example shows that the wood panel industry can and wants to adapt. Nevertheless, one of the unresolved issues relates to formaldehyde emissions from urea-formaldehyde resins. In the first phase of this project, a feasibility study was carried out and a commercialization strategy was prepared for the introduction of wood-based panel technology, which is safer for the environment and human health. The aim of the technology is to provide a sustainable alternative with reduced negative environmental and health impacts compared to existing technologies.
The aim of the project is to improve the technology for the production of biomass plates, as well as to commercialize the developed technology.
PROJECT FUNDED BY:
European Regional Development Fund
PROJECT DURATION:
Period 1: April 1, 2020 – September 30, 2020
Period 2: December 1, 2020 – June 30, 2022
PROJECT BUDGET:
Period 1: EUR 27 777.77
Period 2: EUR 305 868.85
SCIENTIFIC LEADER OF THE PROJECT:
Vladimirs Kirsanovs
PUBLISHED:
24.07.2020.
