Forest-based value creation in Norway 75
Operations at saw mills result in the following products and residues:
• Slabs, edgings and off- cut: 17%
• Sawdust and fines: 7.5%
• Various losses: 4%
• Bark: 5.5%
• Sawn timber: 28%
This gives a high potential for value creation based on these residues. Forestry
residues are expensive to collect and to transport, particularly in high- cost
Norwegian society, where the forestry sector is struggling to stay competitive
in the global market (Talbot & Astrup, 2014). If the bark, leaves and thinnings are left behind in the forest, the nutrients in the soil will not be depleted
(FAO, 1990). However, often the bark will first be removed at the plant, following which it will become a residue and will be used as a fuel for other
operations.
We want to highlight opportunities for the valorisation of side- streams and
residues resulting from the manufacturing of wooden construction materials
and furniture, bioenergy production (solid and liquid), manufacturing of pulp
and paper and manufacturing of lignocellulosic chemicals, lignin- based products, fibres and other material.
Manufacturing of wooden construction materials and furniture
The value chain starts with the processing of the logs harvested in the forest to
produce sawn wood. Only about one- third of a tree becomes sawn wood,
leaving a vast amount of residue (Parikka, 2004), e.g. sawdust and fines. The
efficiency of particular sawmills depends on various factors (e.g. wood properties, types of operations, machinery) and can be measured using special formulas, e.g. lumber recovery factor (LRF ) (Keegan, Morgan, Blatner &
Daniels, 2010). Sawmill residues can be used individually or combined as
mulch, firewood, hog fuel, animal bedding, for use in particle or strand boards
and for pulp recovery (Krigstin, Hayashi, Tchórzewski & Wetzel, 2012). They
are particularly attractive to panel and pulp manufacturers, and can be
upgraded into various wood- based materials. Markets and the valorisation of
the products depend on the sawmill location and the local forest industries.
Bioenergy production
We can distinguish between solid bioenergy, liquid and gaseous bioenergy.
As examples of solid bioenergy there is a possible valorisation pathway for
sawdust, involving the production of wooden briquettes from sawdust.
Edgings and slabs from sawmills can be used for fire wood. More technologically advanced is the pathway leading to the production of advanced pellets
from sawdust, etc. using patented steam explosion technology.
Operations at saw mills result in the following products and residues:
• Slabs, edgings and off- cut: 17%
• Sawdust and fines: 7.5%
• Various losses: 4%
• Bark: 5.5%
• Sawn timber: 28%
This gives a high potential for value creation based on these residues. Forestry
residues are expensive to collect and to transport, particularly in high- cost
Norwegian society, where the forestry sector is struggling to stay competitive
in the global market (Talbot & Astrup, 2014). If the bark, leaves and thinnings are left behind in the forest, the nutrients in the soil will not be depleted
(FAO, 1990). However, often the bark will first be removed at the plant, following which it will become a residue and will be used as a fuel for other
operations.
We want to highlight opportunities for the valorisation of side- streams and
residues resulting from the manufacturing of wooden construction materials
and furniture, bioenergy production (solid and liquid), manufacturing of pulp
and paper and manufacturing of lignocellulosic chemicals, lignin- based products, fibres and other material.
Manufacturing of wooden construction materials and furniture
The value chain starts with the processing of the logs harvested in the forest to
produce sawn wood. Only about one- third of a tree becomes sawn wood,
leaving a vast amount of residue (Parikka, 2004), e.g. sawdust and fines. The
efficiency of particular sawmills depends on various factors (e.g. wood properties, types of operations, machinery) and can be measured using special formulas, e.g. lumber recovery factor (LRF ) (Keegan, Morgan, Blatner &
Daniels, 2010). Sawmill residues can be used individually or combined as
mulch, firewood, hog fuel, animal bedding, for use in particle or strand boards
and for pulp recovery (Krigstin, Hayashi, Tchórzewski & Wetzel, 2012). They
are particularly attractive to panel and pulp manufacturers, and can be
upgraded into various wood- based materials. Markets and the valorisation of
the products depend on the sawmill location and the local forest industries.
Bioenergy production
We can distinguish between solid bioenergy, liquid and gaseous bioenergy.
As examples of solid bioenergy there is a possible valorisation pathway for
sawdust, involving the production of wooden briquettes from sawdust.
Edgings and slabs from sawmills can be used for fire wood. More technologically advanced is the pathway leading to the production of advanced pellets
from sawdust, etc. using patented steam explosion technology.