WoodVALOR

Valorisation and Eco-Design of Post-Consumer Wood Waste into Sustainable Bio-Based Products

Project details

Type of project: Research & Innovation Action
Project focus: Bio-based polymers & plastics
Feedstock origin: Forestry waste
Sidestreams from industry
Feedstock type: Industrial waste streams
Lignin & wood residues

Project period: 1 June 2025 - 31 May 2028
Status: Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution: € 3 515 430,00
Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

The European waste wood sector, with 20.5 million tonnes of post-consumer wood, contributes to a negative environmental impact. A significant amount of this wood cannot be recycled and ends up in landfills or incinerators, emitting 200 to 1,000 kg of CO2 per tonne. Contaminated wood, rich in valuable resources such as cellulose and lignin, is wasted annually, presenting a key opportunity for sustainable resource management.

WoodVALOR aims to address these issues by recycling contaminated waste wood in a biorefinery, converting it into valuable bio-based chemicals and polymers. This process will offer sustainable alternatives to fossil-based materials, including styrene, acrylates, and alkyd resins used in paints and coatings, meeting the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions. By utilising low-value contaminated wood, the project advances circular economy principles, reduces waste, and supports environmental sustainability.

WoodVALOR unites key industry players, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and research institutes to develop innovative, sustainable technologies that convert waste wood into valuable products.

Use advanced processes to decontaminate materials and produce useful products for the paints, construction, agriculture, and mining industries.
Eliminate over 80% of toxic substances from wood and fully utilise the decontaminated wood.
Produce natural binders and emulsifiers for paints and construction with a yield of 90%.
Produce biochar through pyrolysis to restore land affected by mining, with a yield of up to 30%.
Develop processes to convert glucose-rich hydrolysates into natural pigments, fatty acids, and other valuable products.
Use energy-efficient technologies to convert over 95% of lipids into high-quality fatty acids.
Ensure the effectiveness and safety of the bio-based ingredients by testing them in real-world industrial environments.
Collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure the adoption of solutions and social acceptance.
Accelerate the use of wood waste as a feedstock, improving circularity and environmental impact.

Implement decontamination processes in industry to recycle a minimum of 50% of Europe’s waste wood.
Ensure these processes function regardless of contamination levels, while reducing environmental impact, and preventing landfilling and incineration.
Produce a minimum of 10 sustainable products from waste wood, used across 20 or more industrial sectors, contributing to the achievement of the EU’s sustainability goals.
Create value chains involving waste owners, bio-based product manufacturers, and end users across Europe.
Reduce the environmental impact of waste wood by 40% across Europe.
Promote the use of biochar across Europe to improve soil health and fertility, especially in areas affected by mining and unsustainable farming.
Boost public demand for goods made using sustainable, circular methods across various sectors.
Ascertain that regulations support products made through circular processes based on waste wood.