On 15 April, Sonae Arauco hosted a webinar on "Fibreboard Recycling & Particleboard Innovations in the EcoReFibre Project".

As part of the EU-funded EcoReFibre initiative, the session was led by Maria Inês Mota (R&D Researcher) and André Mota (Senior Product Developer) and focused on the project’s latest advancements in fibreboard recycling, sustainable product development, and circular economy strategies.

Watch the full webinar here.

Why post-consumer wood recovery matters
Over 60 million tonnes of fibreboard waste have been generated in Europe over the past 5 years. Increasing the recovery and reuse of this waste is essential to reduce dependence on virgin wood and to close material loops within the EU.

Challenges in MDF recycling
• Limited proven industrial technologies for fibre recovery
• Technical issues with synthetic resins
• Growing volumes of MDF waste make scalable solutions increasingly urgent

EcoReFibre: project goals
• Enhance the recyclability and reduce the carbon footprint of fibreboard
• Develop smart sorting and processing technologies
• Support the shift from virgin to recycled raw materials while ensuring product performance

Demo D: outcomes and demonstration
• Recycled fibreboard fine particles were successfully integrated into the surface layer of particleboard (PB)
• Substitution levels of 10%, 20%, and 30% were tested using multiple material batches
• Variables such as resin load and particle granulometry were analysed

Key technical results
• No significant impact on internal bond, thickness swelling, or surface soundness
• Improvements in bending strength and cutting performance
• Better surface coverage of the particleboard
• Inconsistencies in surface roughness above 30% incorporation, suggesting optimization opportunities

Next steps for the project
• Scale-up through industrial trials
• Conduct in-depth testing on full-size boards
• Evaluate technical, economic, and environmental viability of the process

This webinar marked an important step in demonstrating the technical feasibility and circular potential of fibreboard recycling, and got the attention of more than 250 participants from across Europe.

At Sonae Arauco, we are proud to contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable, resource-efficient future for the wood-based panel industry.

Stay tuned for more updates on our work within the EcoReFibre project and other circular innovation initiatives.