KUCHING: The demand of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products in China has risen sharply in efforts to promote the green development of wood-based panel products industry.
The output of China’s wood-based panels in 2021 was 336.73 million cubic metres (cu m), a year-on-year increase of eight per cent and came after four consecutive years of growth.
“With the improvement of people’s living standard in China, the safety of living room environment became a topic of concern and demand for formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products increased.
“With the green upgrading of the wood-based industry, the production of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products has steadily increased and the market share of these products continues to expand,” according to International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Tropical Timber Market report (Oct 16-30, 2023).
In 2022, China’s output of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products was about 8.1 million cu m, including formaldehyde-free plywood (1.6 million cu m), fibreboard (0.2 million cu m) and particleboard (6.3 million cu m), a year-on-year increase of 36 per cent.
The output of formaldehyde-free plywood products in China has maintained a steady growth trend in recent years, a year-on-year increase of 37 per cent in 2021 and 36 per cent in 2022. The proportion of formaldehyde-free particleboard is largest at 57 per cent in 2020; 61 per cent in 2021 and 78 per cent in 2022.
Formaldehyde-free plywood is mainly made with polyurethane, bean-based protein, thermoplastic film adhesives in China.
The proportion of formaldehyde-free plywood made with bean-based protein adhesives dominated and was 64% (800,000 cu m) in 2020, 57 per cent in 2021 (770,000 cu m) and 63 per cent (one million cu m) in 2022.
For the formaldehyde-free fibreboard, it is mainly made with polyurethane and bean-based protein. The proportion of formaldehyde fibreboard made by polyurethane adhesives dominated and is 83 per cent (500,000 cu m) in 2020, 87 per
cent in 2021 (770,000 cu m) and 50 per cent (100,000 cu m) in 2022.
On the other hand, the proportion of formaldehyde-free particleboard made by polyurethane (MDI) adhesives dominated and is 80 per cent (2 million cu m ) in 2020, 83 per cent in 2021 (3.08 million cu m) and 90 per cent (5.65 million cu m) in 2022.
According to the ITTO report, formaldehyde release is an important indicator to evaluate environmental performance of wood-based panels products. There are seven formaldehyde emission limits for wood-based panel products in China, including four national standards, one environmental production industry standard and two group standards.
“Technical indicators of current formaldehyde emission limits of wood-based panel have reached international standards, of which the ENF level (0.025mg/cu m) in GB/T 39600-2021 ‘The classification of formaldehyde emission for wood-based panel products’ is the most stringent international requirement for formaldehyde emission limits of wood-based panel products.
ENF levels are commonly known as formaldehyde-free levels in the industry. It mainly provides the formaldehyde limit index that consumers are most concerned about.
“Group standard T/CNFPIA 3002-2018: Formaldehyde-free wood-based panels products” gives the definition of formaldehyde-free wood-based panels and gives the requirements from the use of adhesive, formaldehyde-release limit (0.03 mg/cu m) and TVOC release rate not exceeding 0.5mg/(m2.h) (72h).
“The soluble heavy metal content of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products with colour paint finish should also meet the requirements of GB 18584-2001 ‘Interior decoration materials harmful substances limits in wood furniture’,” it added.
The report said non-formaldehyde and low-formaldehyde products are the future development directions and the research on the revision of China’s formaldehyde-free wood-based panel industry standards continues to promote the green development of wood-based panel products industry.
More than 95 per cent of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products have surface finishes. ENF grade and formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products are more suitable for use in a space where the amount of wood-based panel products is large, the space used by sensitive people, special places such as hospitals, nursing homes and kindergartens and special consumers groups.
“The proportion of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products will continue to expand and the substances that affect human health such as VOC (volatile organic compound) release and free phenol in the production process and use will gradually attract consumer attention.
“The variety of formaldehyde-free wood-based panel products will be further enriched and the production efficiency and quality requirements will be further improved.
“The functional requirements of formaldehyde-free and wood-based panel products will gradually be combined and functional formaldehyde-free products, such as ultra-thin, shaped, flame retardant, moisture-proof, anti-bacterial, insect-proof, anti-static and low-odour products, will become one of the main development directions according to different application fields and places.
“The development of formaldehyde-free finishing materials will become more urgent, “ added the report.
