Project
The GREENJOIST project is a 36 month project co-financed by LIFE+, which is the European Union’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects.
LIFE+ GREENJOIST proposes an eco-innovation in the field of recycled wood waste. Wood recycling is not totally new: main application sectors for existing wood recycling practices are biomass fuels, animal bedding, floor beddings and production of new engineered wood products. With regards to the latter, several processes for recycling wood exist. The main limitations in current approaches relate to recycled quantities, selectivity of waste types and output products.
Recycling through pyrolysis
Helsen et al. proposed a process for total recycling of treated wood waste through pyrolysis: in this case the final product is pure coal powder for industrial use. Most solutions meant for the wood industry imply the use of some virgin wood in the mix.
Recycling of wood panels
Mantanis et al. propose “A New Recycling Process for Waste Panels“ in which only end-use wood panels are used and the effective virgin wood substitution level is 25%.
Various wood manufacturers have adopted environmental policies to reach good volumes of wood recycling, up to 85%. Most wood waste used by wood industry leaders produces boards (MDF/OSB) for furniture and flooring: in both cases the product requires additional treatments such as paper impregnation, lamination and fumigation.
The technology demonstrated by GREENJOIST is based on a simple yet very effective system of machinery and technology, for the recycling of different kinds of wood waste to produce high quality ready-to-ship SCRW 100% recycled joists.