Important results from the project
The Tallboard project reached its initial goals. It replaced fossil paraffin wax with tall oil-based hydrophobic formulations in the fiberboard panels. The formulas were scaled up to full industrial production conditions for fibreboard manufacturing, achieving TRL 7. The MRL5 and SRL5 were also reached by analysis of market potential and carbon emissions, revealing considerably higher prices, while a significantly lower carbon footprint for tall-oil-based emulsions compared to paraffin wax ones.
Expected long term effects
The project is expected to support the long-term replacement of fossil-based materials with tall oil–based alternatives in fiberboard production, thereby reducing emissions and promoting the circular use of forest industry side streams. While comparable technical performance and an improved carbon footprint to fossil-based hydrophobic agents were achieved, broader market uptake may take time, as slightly higher costs may require gradual adaptation and alignment with sustainability priorities.
Approach and implementation
The project was carried out in close collaboration with industrial partners in planning, implementation and risk management. Development and testing activities were followed by continuous validation at both laboratory and pilot scale. This structured approach ensured reliability, reduced uncertainties and minimized the risk of unexpected results when transferring the developed processes to industrial production environments, resulting in two successful industrial tests.
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