PaGraM – Manufacture of Binder-Free Furniture Boards from Grasses Grown in Paludiculture Systems

Peatlands offer considerable potential for climate protection while also supporting the production of renewable raw materials. Wet and rewetted peatlands act as carbon sinks and are highly productive sources of biomass. They also make an important contribution to groundwater protection, flood protection and biodiversity conservation. It therefore appears both sensible and desirable to transition the management of Germany’s peatlands, 95% of which have been drained and are predominantly used for agriculture, towards paludiculture. However, this can only be achieved if viable concepts and alternative value-creation opportunities can be developed and established. The project aims to contribute to this transition by expanding the range of applications for agricultural biomass from paludiculture. Its specific objective is to manufacture binder-free furniture boards from grasses grown in paludiculture systems.

To this end, suitable process parameters for the manufacture and processing of furniture boards from paludiculture grasses will be developed. The particleboards and fibreboards produced in the process are intended to meet the requirements for furniture boards, particularly with regard to their mechanical properties and emissions. A material manufactured without the use of additional binders would reduce the use of chemicals, save the energy required to produce binders, and simplify recycling because no binders are present. Substituting wood with this material could also help alleviate the increasing demand for this increasingly scarce resource.