This Furniture and Wood Technology Center (CETEM) has developed boards intended for furniture production in Yecla. The project explores using waste from the food industry, such as artichoke heart outer leaves, grain husks, and grape stems, to create sustainable board materials that can replace traditional chipboards. The goal is to leverage waste streams to ensure a reliable supply while reducing environmental impact. The initiative also envisions an adhesive made from natural sugars obtained from citrus fruits to perform the binding role, aiming to substitute formaldehyde, a toxic resin traditionally used in wood-based composites.
The research is carried out under the Matcomp project, with support from the Development Institute. It seeks to unlock new pathways for circular economy initiatives that reuse industrial waste for productive purposes and broader value.
The boards derived from vegetable fibers exhibit properties comparable to wood or standard particleboard and can be employed in furniture manufacturing, panel production, or wooden flooring, among other applications.
CETEM director José Francisco Puche explains that the research aims to present the new material to the panel sector, fostering collaboration between producers of vegetable scraps and the companies that will use them as raw materials.
“The next step is to connect the production sources with the industry to confirm there is sufficient demand,” Puche notes. He observes that there are currently no dedicated plate producers in the region. While the Spanish industry remains concentrated among a few companies, he remains hopeful about a positive reception.
Puche adds that the key condition for economic viability is consumer willingness to pay a modest premium for furniture made from recycled fiberboard, suggesting a pathway toward broader adoption as awareness and demand grow.
Circular economy concepts hold strong potential at present, provided product costs stay reasonable. The CETEM team is actively pursuing three alternative materials that could ensure a steady supply of organic matter: fibrous residues from artichokes, rice, and grape skins.
Of the three organic sources, previously used mainly as livestock feed or fuel, researchers have demonstrated that each can yield distinct board types that could replace conventional agglomerates and resins.
Traditionally, these processes rely on wood materials containing formaldehyde and chemical adhesives. Puche points out that formaldehyde is a pollutant for the atmosphere and seeks healthier alternatives.
The project also includes efforts to identify safer, organic-based adhesives. Research focuses on citrus residues, whose sugars, through specific treatments, can produce sticky substances capable of performing the same binding role as formaldehyde.
When the use of toxic substances decreases, it becomes possible to promote raw materials sourced from renewable origins such as sucrose, lignin, and vegetable oils used as raw materials in boards.
In addition, the vegetable residues used to manufacture the adhesive can be sourced from the food industry, supporting industrial symbiosis between agri-food and furniture sectors in the region.
The Technology Center has also pursued other environmental initiatives, including recycling foam used in sofa and armchair production, a material that poses disposal challenges but can be repurposed for new applications.