Sonae Arauco, one of the world's leading manufacturers of wood-based panels for furniture, construction and interior design, has started operating the first industrial-scale fibreboard recycling line at its Mangualde factory. The project, the result of an investment of Euro 8 million, represents a pioneering milestone for the sector and reinforces the company's commitment to the circular economy and innovation.

The new line makes it possible to transform end-of-life MDF panels into raw material for the production of new MDF/HDF fibre panels, something that, until now, was not possible on an industrial scale. When fully operational, the new line will allow up to 20% of recycled MDF fibres to be integrated into the new panels produced.

According to Rui Correia, CEO of Sonae Arauco: "This investment is strategic not only for Sonae Arauco, but for the entire wood-based panel industry. The introduction of recycled MDF fibres into new panels in an industrial context demonstrates our commitment to promoting circularity and the cascading use of wood. The initial results are promising, and we are confident that we will achieve the 20% incorporation target to which we are committed."

In 2024, Sonae Arauco valued 809,000 tonnes of recycled wood, increasing the incorporation rate in its portfolio to 33%. In this context, the company currently ensures that more than 70% of the wood used in its particleboard (PB) ranges is recycled, and expects to reach more than 75%, in some geographies, by the end of the year.

The new recycling line in Mangualde is part of the TransForm project, an agenda created under Component 5 (C5) of the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), dedicated to Capitalisation and Business Innovation, in the context of the Mobilising Agendas and Green Agendas for Business Innovation.