Rund 4 Millionen Tonnen Altholz könnten in Deutschland jedes Jahr aufbereitet und als Sekundärrohstoffe verwendet werden. Das geschieht allerdings noch zu selten. Pfleiderer geht hier als Pionier der Altholzverwertung voran und nutzt dank der Initiative „ReSource“ bereits heute rund 60 Prozent Post-Consumer- – und damit echtes – Recyclingholz für seine Spanplatten.

Cascade utilization preferred

When it comes to sustainability, the experts for wood-based materials have set themselves ambitious goals – laid down in the ESG framework. “ReSource” is now another important step with which Pfleiderer is driving forward the sustainable use of resources. “Wood has a reputation for being a particularly sustainable material,” explains Stefan Zinn, CCO of the Pfleiderer Group. “That’s true, but getting the best out of the material depends heavily on how it is used.” That’s why Pfleiderer’s “ReSource” program focuses on recycled used wood – which is key to the sustainable use of this resource. “Building furniture and recycling it thermally after use is both harmful to the climate and a waste of precious resources due to the carbon emissions released earlier than necessary,” says Stefan Zinn. “It is important to exploit the full range of recycling options in accordance with the principles of cascade and closed-loop use.” In concrete terms, this means that wood should only be released for energy recovery at the latest possible time in order to keep the_CO2 stored in it in the cycle for a long time. There is another possibility between original use and incineration – namely multiple recycling for optimum material utilization of the resource.

“ReSource”: innovative technology for waste wood recycling

Pfleiderer is the largest cross-sector recycler of used wood in Germany. “The proportion of recycled waste wood in our products is already around 48% – for chipboard it is around 60%. We will significantly increase this proportion for our products by 2025 – and ‘ReSource’ will support us in this,” says Stefan Zinn. With “ReSource”, Pfleiderer has set up an innovative recycling process that enables uniquely reliable separation of foreign matter and allows chip processing of the highest quality and quantity. “In this way, we increase the proportion of waste wood that can be recycled and optimize recyclability from procurement to product.” Customers of the sustainability champion enjoy a number of advantages as a result: they can sell products that are healthy for living and environmentally friendly without having to compromise on good quality. How does it work? Thanks to a sophisticated concept that gets the best out of waste wood.

Complex recycling steps for excellent results

In order for waste wood to be reused, it must undergo a treatment process – so that unwanted foreign substances are eliminated and the requirements of the German Waste Wood Ordinance, the strictest regulation in Europe in this regard, are met. To achieve this, Pfleiderer has been working for decades with its partners in waste wood recycling and machine development on smart methods to keep the raw material wood in the material cycle for as long and as extensively as possible. The result is the individually configured cleaning systems in use today, which are unparalleled in the industry. Safety for processors and consumers comes first: Pfleiderer accepts processed recycled wood chips from category A1 and A2 waste wood from its partners, which only contain a minimal amount of foreign matter. The start of its new life as a recyclable material then begins with pre-cleaning and sorting from fine to coarse. The resulting fractions then pass through several stations in which the remaining foreign matter is selectively removed. “Metals are removed magnetically or using eddy current processes,” explains Zinn. “Non-metals, such as plastics, are then identified and removed using sorting processes with X-rays or infrared detection. The processes that post-consumer recycled wood goes through are complex and even involve the use of AI. We have invested tens of millions in high-tech development for this – but this is necessary in order to end up with a product that meets the quality requirements of Pfleiderer, customers and users, as well as making optimum use of wood as a valuable resource!”