@Article{jrm.2025.02025-0107,
AUTHOR = {Ilze Irbe, Laura Andze, Inese Filipova},
TITLE = {Sustainable Egg Packaging Waste Biocomposites Derived from Recycled Wood Fibers and Fungal Filaments},
JOURNAL = {Journal of Renewable Materials},
VOLUME = {13},
YEAR = {2025},
NUMBER = {11},
PAGES = {2139--2154},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/jrm/v13n11/64536},
ISSN = {2164-6341},
ABSTRACT = {Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic materials have led to increased interest in bio-based composites. This study investigates the development and characterization of sustainable egg packaging waste (EPW) biocomposites derived from recycled wood fibers and fungal mycelium filaments as a natural binder. Three formulations were prepared using EPW as the primary substrate, with and without the addition of hemp shives and sawdust as co-substrates. The composites were evaluated for granulometry, density, mechanical strength, hygroscopic behavior, thermal conductivity, and fire performance using cone calorimetry. Biocomposites, composed exclusively of egg packaging waste, exhibited favorable fire resistance, lower total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSR), extended time to ignition (TTI), reduced hygroscopicity, and higher flexural strength. Biocomposites, containing hemp shives, demonstrated improved compressive strength and thermal insulation but showed weaker fire resistance. Biocomposites, incorporating sawdust, showed intermediate properties with the longest flameout time (TTF) and highest heat release values. Overall, the results demonstrate that EPW-based biocomposites can be tailored through substrate composition to achieve desirable combinations of mechanical, thermal, and fire-retardant properties, highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic materials in building and packaging applications.},
DOI = {10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0107}
}