32 |


The median lifespan of MDF-based products based on data collected via an on-line survey (light-green background colour) End-use


Furniture


Laminate flooring Construction Packaging Moulding Other


Processing & losses


fibreboard. The EcoReFibre project has collected data on these two factors so that it can model how much waste fibreboard should be present.


ECOREFIBRE MODEL It is highly likely that a large part of fibreboard waste found in Europe will be derived from fibreboard panels made there. Some additional fibreboard, however, will be consumed via imported products, for example toys, craft products like boxes and frames, packaging and so on. Despite much effort, a reliable estimate of how much fibreboard from imported goods ends up in the PCWW stream has not been found. By the time you read this, the model should be available for you to test (ecorefibre.eu). EcoReFibre’s waste generation model allows users to estimate the impact of imported goods by applying a factor to MDF production of the region, for example, the EU, France, etc. Therefore, you can conduct a sensitivity analysis by adjusting the amount of PCWW due to previously imported goods.


The model uses typical lifespans of different MDF-based products, which have been estimated via an on-line survey, using a “wisdom of the crowd” technique. The median lifespans of different product categories are shown in the table above. These values are based on 188 replies. The end-use proportions (boxes with white background) are those determined


End-use Proportion 38%


29% 15% 0% 1% 1%


15%


by the European Panel Federation from their members in 2015. Consequently, the weighted average lifespan of MDF made in 2015 is 12.4 years.


The same approach has been applied to the production years from 2002 to 2022 and from this we conclude that the average life of a product containing MDF of the last 20 years is about 12 years.


If it is assumed that 99% of the MDF manufactured in a given year becomes waste within 45 years, then the average lifespan can be used to draw a waste conversion curve for that year’s production. An example of such a curve is shown


in figure 3 for panels made in 2015, with a starting point of 15%, which is the processing loses from the table (above). This curve predicts that 50% of 2015’s production had become waste by the end of 2023, ie eight years after it was produced. If we apply a waste conversion curve


to every year of production, then we can predict the total volume of MDF waste generated in any given year. Figure 4 shows that approximately 81 million cubic metres of MDF waste will be created across the globe during 2025. This volume is not far off the volume of new MDF made in the same year. This is a lot of waste that should be recycled.


Once the fibreboard has been separated from the PCWW stream it must be used. Consequently, other parts of the EcoReFibre project are developing technologies to


15.0 13.5 1.0


20.0 5.0 1.0


extract useful fibres and fines from waste fibreboard particles and using these as substitutes for virgin wood fibres and fines. Some are being introduced into new particleboard and fibreboards, and others are being used to make high-performance, organic construction blocks. Additional information is available on the EcoReFibre website.


What is clear is that the EcoReFibre project is addressing a real challenge in the marketplace, and it will help the European wood-based panels sector to be even more circular than it is now. ●


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This article is a reworded version of a paper written by Dr Irle, Flore Lebreton and Christophe Belloncle (École Supérieure du Bois, Nantes, France) that was presented at the 13th European Wood-based Panel Symposium in October 2024, Hamburg The EcoRefibre project is funded by


Horizon Europe (Call: HORIZON-CL4-2021- RESILIENCE-01).


Typical Lifespan (years) 15.0


Above left, figure 3: A curve showing when MDF panels made in 2015 will become waste Above right, figure 4: Global MDF production, based on data published by FAOSTAT, and the resultant MDF waste generated WBPI | February/March 2025 | www.wbpionline.com


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