Wood Industry Wastes Valorisation and Reuse for a Greener Architecture

Abstract

This study is part of a PhD research supported by PNRR aimed to provide concrete actions to implement greener constructive practices in response to the EU Green Deal and the demand of sustainability in construction. In particular, this paper analyses how wastes from the wood industry can be reused for applications in construction, in light of the circular economy (CE) and the industrial symbiosis. The analysed wastes derive from various processes and their heterogeneous nature often makes their incorporation into novel products complex. Additionally, they may contain contaminants, such as glues or chemicals, that may limit the reuse options or require special handling procedures. However, by addressing these issues through appropriate manufacturing processes and sustainable practices, wood waste reuse can offer significant environmental benefits, such as reducing wastes quantity and saving natural resources, or technological benefits by bringing innovation and sustainability to the sector. Once wood assortments’ manufacture was briefly outlined, the various types of waste resultant from each processing phase are analysed to explore possible recycling opportunities and identify challenges and prospects for more efficient, rational, and sustainable management. The study proposed here, focuses on the analysis of materials, products and systems that reusewastes from thewood industry and the possible applications in construction. Among these, for example, thermoacoustic panels, polymer-based biocomposites,wood-cement panels and blocks are discussed. Furthermore, attention is given to microlaminated wood technology, currently considered a technological implementation to traditional laminated wood. Finally, the crucial role of wood waste recycling as a CE approach is underlined, emphasizing the fundamental contribution to environmental sustainability, the mitigation of climate change, and the creation of new markets and jobs in the construction context.