New Study Explores Sustainable End-of-Life Solutions for Wood Waste

Researchers affiliated with the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change from ESCI-UPF and the Swiss company Deasyl, which provides innovation in the green chemistry field, have published a pioneering study in open access titled “Wood Chips Components Separation with a New Wet-Milling Process Compared to Chemical Depolymerization: A Technical, Economic, and Environmental Comparison”.

The collaborative effort involved other researchers from the University of Girona, WAB-Group, and the University Pompeu Fabra, highlighting a multidisciplinary approach to address pressing environmental challenges from academic and private perspectives and assessing both the environmental and economic impacts.

The research evaluates two key processes, wet milling and chemical depolymerization, for handling wood waste at its end-of-life stage. Through ex-ante life cycle assessment, energy balance analysis, and economic evaluation. The study’s findings hold significance for industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers involved in the management and valorisation of wood waste. By offering a comprehensive evaluation of two key processes, it contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable waste management strategies. The insights provided pave the way for informed decision-making towards more environmentally friendly industrial practices.

This research represents a vital component of Sergi Arfelis’ PhD thesis in Life Cycle Assessment, focusing on the industrialization of chemical and mechanochemical processes. It sets the stage for further exploration and optimization of sustainable end-of-life solutions for various industrial waste streams.

Access to the research paper →