Abstract

The enhanced technological possibilities to utilise wood waste and residues in the production of wood-based panels can help towards the transition to a circular, low-carbon bioeconomy. The cascading use of wood resources, defined as “the efficient utilisation of resources by using residues and recycled materials for material use to extend total biomass availability within a given system” is one of the leading principles for achieving this goal. The wood-based panel industry is characterised by significant amounts of waste and residues that present a great volume potential for cascading. The aim of the present study is to define the basic guidelines for cascading use of wood waste from the production of wood-based panels and analyse the economic impact in terms of economic efficiency in line with the circular and bioeconomy principles. Time series analysis of wood waste and raw material flows in the Republic of Bulgaria, economic assessment of the current utilisation of wood waste in the wood-based panel industry along with comparative analysis of the potential utilization methods have been presented. The existing technical and market barriers to the cascading use of wood have also been discussed.

Highlights

  • The concept of a circular economy (CE) argues that products do not quickly become waste, but are reused to extract their maximum value before safely and productively returning to the biosphere (Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation, 2013)

  • Circular economy lies on close-loops (Jawahir & Bradley, 2016) and is based on: Reduction in usage of natural resources; Increase in the usage of renewable, recyclable resources; Reduction in the carbon emissions; Reduction in the material wastes and minimization of losses; Maintenance of economic value of goods, materials and components (European Environment Agency, 2016)

  • The CCR model gives the information about scale influence on the each Circular Economy Opportunities (CEOP)

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Summary

Introduction

The concept of a circular economy (CE) argues that products do not quickly become waste, but are reused to extract their maximum value before safely and productively returning to the biosphere (Ellen-MacArthur-Foundation, 2013). Circular economy lies on close-loops (Jawahir & Bradley, 2016) and is based on: Reduction in usage of natural resources; Increase in the usage of renewable, recyclable resources; Reduction in the carbon emissions; Reduction in the material wastes and minimization of losses; Maintenance of economic value of goods, materials and components (European Environment Agency, 2016). All these elements, or principles can be implemented throughout so called business models (Ionescu et al, 2017). This has introduced several visionary concepts i.e. the bioeconomy, the bio-based society and the green economy that are redirecting the strategic planning of many industrial companies (McCormick & Kautto, 2013)

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