From waste to resource: how Unilin recycles laminate floors

Our laminate floors are installed with the Uniclic system. This makes them easy to install and the click system also ensures a stable, creak-free floor. Even when a floor reaches end of life, the Uniclic system offers significant advantages. “Because no glue is used, removing a floor is much simpler,” explains Geert Coudenys. “Also, no glue residue is left behind, which greatly improves recyclability.”

New technologies

Recyclability is at the heart of Unilin’s sustainability approach. Thanks to a technology developed in-house, Unilin is the first company in the world capable of recycling MDF and HDF fibreboards. “These boards form the core of our laminate floors,” says Coudenys. “They are made of bonded wood fibres compressed under pressure. For the longest time, it was considered impossible to break the adhesive bonds in an industrially feasible way without damaging the fibres. After years of intensive research we finally managed to crack the code: our newly-developed in-house technology lets us separate the wood fibres under steam pressure. This way we can recover high-quality fibres that can be reused to manufacture new boards.”

A world first with a huge impact. “This multiplies the lifespan of wood fibres. It means new trees have the chance to grow and store CO₂, and we become less dependent on new raw materials. It is a technology that makes sense, both from an ecological and economic viewpoint,” says Coudenys.

Back to the factory

In our mission to become circular, Unilin looks beyond its own production. To make recycling truly possible, old products also need to find their way back to the factory. That is why Unilin Recover was launched. “For materials such as MDF, there is no structured collection system,” explains Coudenys. “That is why we have taken the lead ourselves. We map waste streams and help organise their collection. This ranges from offcuts from sawmills and pruned wood from sustainable forest management to laminate floors that have already had a life.” Close collaboration with partners and clients makes it possible to organise collection on a larger scale. “This way, we avoid burning or landfilling waste while reducing our need for raw materials – another win-win,” emphasises Coudenys.

Sustainability strategy

These initiatives fit seamlessly into Unilin’s One Home sustainability strategy, which aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement. Our goal is for at least 25% of the raw material mix to consist of recycled materials in the future. “If we achieve this target, our MDF, HDF and laminate production will be able to store around 380,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year in the wood fibres that are given new life,” says Coudenys.

Discover the full Long Live Laminate story

This project was partly funded by the French State as part of France 2030, managed by ADEME, with financial support from La Région Grand Est.