Eco wheat board

Straw board

This article focuses on the eco properties of wheat / straw board as an alternative to particle board. As with all manufactured materials it's important to check whether the production process adds in chemical and synthetic binders and adhesives. Although not widely available as yet, this board is becoming the popular choice as the wheat grain is grown globally - making local production possible.

Description
♦ Eco wheat board / straw board / wheat sheet is board produced from compressed straw rather than wood fibres compressed with chemical resins
♦ The alternative material for medium density fibreboard (MDF) and timber fibre particle board
♦ The wheat /straw is a waste by product from harvesting
♦ The wheat / straw is finely ground, dried, bound with a resin, compressed into sheets, sanded and cut to size

Cost
♦ Inexpensive

Advantages
♦ Highly suitable for laminate surfacing, painting and staining
♦ Lighter in weight than wood fibre particleboard
♦ Easy to transport
♦ Better moisture resistance than wood fibre particleboard
♦ High level of fixing retention (nails and screws)
♦ Zero formaldehyde used in production as the binding agent
♦ Use of this product reduces the need for timber fibres
♦ Suited to the same machining methods as wood fibre particleboard

Disadvantages
♦ Product is not widely known about, lack of local distributors and retailers

Embodied Energy
♦ Lower embodied energy than particleboard
♦ Lower amount of emissions created during production
♦ Energy used to heat the panels to a high temperature during manufacture
♦ Lighter weight means less energy used for transportation per kilogramme

Source/Origin
♦ Readily available wherever wheat crops are farmed

Renewable
♦ This natural, renewable and sustainable plant fibre is harvested annually

Environment & Health
♦ Using waste from wheat harvesting, this method reduces the demand for timber, which in turn reduces the need to destroy forests & landscapes
♦ These products are emission free in both manufacture and use an alternative chemical binder such as methyl diphenyl disocyanate (MDI) which is a formaldehyde free and fast-curing resin
♦ MDI is a synthetic substance, can cause allergens and sensitivities
♦ MDI emits much lower levels of VOCs than other synthetic binders

Performance
♦ Manufactured with industrial grade strength ♦ Out performs timber based particle board

Recycled content
♦ n/a

Recyclable
♦ Currently no examples found of post consumer use wheat / straw boards being recycled

Disposal / Biodegradable
♦ Manufacture of wheat board uses a waste product of agriculture

Ethics
♦ This waste by product creates a second means of income for farmers

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