Análise da aplicabilidade e da inserção de conceito de economia circular em uma indústria de painéis de madeira

Abstract

The growing environmental awareness of society makes it essential for organizations to assess and control the impacts related to sustainability in their product or service process. However, when it comes to circular practices, there is also a lack of structure and information on the part of companies regarding their implementation. Thus, the objective of this work is to analyze the applicability of improvements in the Circular Economy in a MDF panel industry, identifying opportunities and barriers to action. To understand the progress and motivation of the industries in this matter, a questionnaire was applied in the management area of an industry producing MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) panels, located in southern Brazil. The elaboration of the questions was based on a study that related five business models for the Circular Economy (Circular Materials, Resource Recovery, Product Life Extension, Sharing Platform and Products as Services) with existing or potential practices in the wood panels industry. In the results, the methods of including raw material in the process and reusing sludge were considered unfeasible, the first for not being valued by the market and the second for logistical and financial issues, but the reuse of water, non-compliant panels for the production of shim and log bark and wood powder as biomass for energy generation is already done; the substitution of synthetic resin in the process has been studied; the use of hydrophobic materials already happens at another plant in the industry; the insertion of nanoparticles proved possible because such raw material already exists in a company unit; the methods of improving coating and heat treatment are still unknown; in addition to the methods presented, the company is launching a copper or silver based product with the aim of extending the product's useful life and, finally, offering repair services, sharing platforms and products as a service were seen as discouraging sales of new products. Therefore, as a conclusion, study opportunities were found regarding the replacement of non-ecological raw materials and the methods of coating improvement, heat treatment and insertion of nanoparticles and the barriers were perceived in the reuse of materials as raw material, in the destination sludge and the introduction of sharing platform concepts, products as a service and repair services.