MataDOR · Medium Density Fibreboard Recovery

Challenge and solution: MDF - medium density fibreboard is a wood-based panel product produced from virgin wood, either logs or wood chips. The virgin wood is refined into fibres that are blended with resin and wax, dried, then formed into a mat that is consolidated and cured under pressure and heat. Over the years, MDF has evolved into a highly sophisticated product designed to meet specific end-use requirements. Around 45% of MDF is used in furniture, 32% used in laminate flooring with the remaining 23% used in construction, mouldings, panelling etc.. There is 19.5M tons of MDF produced in Europe every year1 and an estimated 2.73M2 tons wasted within the supply chain. The Challenge: With almost 20M tons of MDF being produced every year in the EU (70M tons globally), it is unacceptable that none of this material is recycled. There is a clear and obvious need for a technology based solution to this problem. The challenge for MDF Recovery is to validate and commercialise its own technology to ensure that MDF recycling is considered ‘normal’ in future and that the opportunity to be first to market is taken.