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Working Groups

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The main (although not exclusive) aim of this Action is to characterize the relationship between modification processing, product properties, and the associated environmental impacts and their comparison to normal wood based products and alternative (often) non-renewable materials. This includes the development and optimization of modified processing to maximize sustainability and minimize environmental impacts. The benefits of performance improvement need to be measured against ‘baseline’ scenarios with more conventional wood products. The key research and activities needed to achieve the goal are presented in Section D.1, where academic and industry researchers and other experts will join the interdisciplinary research theme. The Action’s members will be grouped in the 4 Working Groups described below, although there will be strong collaboration and networking among Working Groups. 

 

Working Group 1: Product Category Rules

Objectives: To develop product category rules for modified wood based on the scientific and industrial state-of-the-art of commercialized and developing modified wood products and technologies. Evaluation of current PCRs and adoption where appropriate.

Activities:

  • Thermodynamics and chemical reactions associated with wood modification processing
  • Process parameters leading to thermal degradation and chemical, structural, mechanical, and physical properties changes
  • Innovative wood modification processing for specific applications in construction and interior design. 
  • Performance of modified wood: machining of the wood surface (with reference to FP0802; see also partial results of E35); the impact of the combined actions of heat, moisture, and mechanical pressure (results of FP0904), surfaces (FP1006) and wider issues (FP1303).

Leader: Dick Sandberg (Sweden)
Deputy leader: Robert Nemeth(Hungary)

 

Working Group 2: Life Cycle Assessments

Objectives: To perform objective environmental impact assessments of commercial modification processes and incorporate environmental impact assessments into wood modification processing and product development, including recycling and upgrading at the end of service life.

Activities:

  • Crucial environmental aspects associated with innovative wood modification processing technologies and resulting products
  • Reference service life of the product, maintenance requirements and performance in service (in cooperation with FP1303).
  • Optimization of the developed processes from the sustainability point of view.
  • Scenarios for up-cycling after product service life based on the cradle to cradle concept.

Leader: Christelle Ganne-Chedeville (Switzerland)
Deputy leader: Lars Tellnes (Norway)

 

Working Group 3: Environmental products declarations

Objectives: To develop environmental product declarations based on WG1 and WG2 and force a harmonization of various national EPDs in the field of wood modification.

Activities:

  • Environmental product declarations of modified wood
  • Product design guidelines and properties of assemblies made of modified wood
  • Data to architects, engineers, and industry of the physical and structural properties, combined with environmental impacts of the wood modification processing in a clear and consolidated form

Leader: Callum Hill (UK)
Deputy leader: Ana Dias (Portugal)

 

Working Group 4: Integration, dissemination and exploitation

Objectives: To ensure dissemination, evaluation, and exploitation of the Action’s results together with establishing a strong network with the relevant industrial stakeholders.

Activities:

  • Promotion, dissemination and commercialization of knowledge acquired in WG1-WG3
  • Evaluation of research results of WG1-WG3 by the industry stakeholders
  • Marketing campaigns on social networks with the aim to increase social awareness and acceptance
  • Lobbying – reaching policy makers and European and national program operators.

Leader: Edo Kegel (Netherlands)
Deputy leader: Michael Burnard(Slovenia)