The risk of toxic and strongly debated wood preservation materials and specific binders starts only now to be taken very seriously by politics and by the public. The integrated EU project ECOBINDERS aims to develop novel binders derived from agro waste streams. These binders will be used in conjunction with natural fibres and are inherently non-toxic, environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Furthermore, a reduction of CO2 emission will be established. Thanks to the implementation of the expected new products that will emerge from the ECOBINDERS project into society, the amount of toxic materials that can be found in every household in Europe today, will be diminished significantly.

The main objectives of this project therefore are:

• To develop non-toxic alternatives for toxic wood protection agents and resins
• To develop a new class of multifunctional ecobinders from the renewable components furfuryl alcohol and sulphur-free lignin
• To develop innovative and sustainable processes for multifunctional ecobinders by using an integrated chain approach combining multi-sectorial interests

In order to achieve these ambitious project goals, a consortium of 14 SMEs, representing the whole chain of raw material suppliers to the final end producers, have joined their efforts. Due to the multi-disciplinary character of the research, a selected group of outstanding universities and RTD performers is participating in this project, that involves an total budget of about 8 million EUROS. The LCA Unit of the Technology and Society Laboratory investigates potential ecological risks within the products life cycles in a prospective approach accompanying the development. The main tasks within the project are following:

• Support of partners in questions related with expected ecological impacts of planed processes for production of primary furan resins, sulphur-free lignins, secondary furans and lignins by modification, and furan and lignin based ecobinders.
• Support of partners in questions related with expected ecological impacts of planed processes for production of preserved wood, boards and 3D products.
• Life cycle Assessment for the final formulations and production routes of ecobinders. The results shall highlight the relevant sources of environmental impacts thus revealing improvement potential for and issues to be considered in further development.
• LCA of products from laboratory scale. The results shall highlight the relevant sources of environmental impacts thus revealing improvement potential for and issues to be considered in up-scaling.

  
Contact: Hans-Joerg Althaus

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