Developing Engineered Wood Products from Natural Fibers to Advance Sustainability in the Philippines

Abstract

Philippines, home to diverse natural resources and an agriculture-based economy, is increasingly pressured to practice sustainability in the construction and manufacturing sectors. This article investigated the production of engineered wood products from natural fibres and agricultural residues to enhance sustainability and resource optimization. It considers using native raw materials such as bamboo, abaca, coconut husks, banana stalks, rice straw, and peanut shells for new building materials, including more sustainable particleboard, fiberboard and engineered wood. These materials have satisfactory mechanical properties and provide eco-friendly solutions to replace wood and solve deforestation, agrowaste accumulation, and rural economic inequality. The findings focused on new processing methods, product performance, resin development, policy, industry collaboration, and research driving innovation. Although facing real challenges such as variability of quality, low scalability and lack of infrastructure, the Philippines is in a good position to become a regional leader in engineered wood products from sustainable sources. The authors also highlighted the perspectives for research, policy, and industry collaborations that will maximize the opportunities offered by such natural fibre reinforced composites to foster the development of a circular low carbon economy.

Keywords

• Agrowaste
• Biocomposite
• Eco-design
• Greentech
• Renewable Resource

Filipinler’de Sürdürülebilirliğin Artırılmasına Yönelik Doğal Liflerden Üretilmiş Ahşap Ürünlerin Geliştirilmesi

Öz

Filipinler, çeşitli doğal kaynaklara ve tarıma dayalı bir ekonomiye sahip bir ülke olarak, inşaat ve imalat sektörlerinde sürdürülebilir uygulamaları benimseme konusunda giderek artan bir baskı altındadır. Bu makalede, sürdürülebilirliği geliştirmek ve kaynakların etkin kullanımını sağlamak amacıyla tarımsal artık niteliğindeki doğal liflerden mühendislik ahşap ürünlerinin üretimi incelenmiştir. Bambu, abaka, hindistancevizi kabuğu, muz sapı, pirinç samanı ve yer fıstığı kabuğu gibi yerli hammaddelerin daha sürdürülebilir yonga levha, lif levha ve mühendislik ahşapları gibi yeni yapı malzemeleri üretiminde kullanımı ele alınmıştır. Bu malzemeler yalnızca tatmin edici mekanik özelliklere sahip olmakla kalmayıp, aynı zamanda orman tahribatı, tarımsal atık birikimi ve kırsal ekonomik eşitsizlik gibi sorunlara çözüm sunan çevre dostu alternatifler olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Çalışmada, yeni işleme yöntemleri, ürün performansı, reçine geliştirme süreci ile politika yapımı, sanayi iş birlikleri ve araştırma yoluyla yenilikçiliğin teşvik edilmesi gibi konulara odaklanılmıştır. Kalite değişkenliği, düşük ölçeklenebilirlik ve altyapı eksikliği gibi bazı gerçek zorluklarla karşı karşıya olmasına rağmen, Filipinler, sürdürülebilir kaynaklardan elde edilen mühendislik ahşap ürünleri alanında bölgesel bir lider olma potansiyeline sahiptir. Yazarlar ayrıca, doğal lif takviyeli bu kompozitlerin sunduğu fırsatların en üst düzeye çıkarılmasını sağlayacak araştırma, politika ve sanayi iş birliklerine yönelik perspektifleri vurgulamıştır. Bu yönüyle, döngüsel ve düşük karbonlu bir ekonominin geliştirilmesine katkı sağlanması amaçlanmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Tarım Atıkları
• Biyokompozit
• Ekotasarım
• Yeşil Teknoloji
• Yenilenebilir Kaynak

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