HPL: Opportunities for post-consumer recycling and refurbishing

May 2023

Preface

High-pressure laminate (HPL) manufactured in accordance with EN 438 has been used in the construction and furniture sector for decades. The European standard EN 438 defines the material, requirements and properties of HPL.

HPL is a resin and paper-based (cellulose) thermosetting composite material and features a unique, extremely robust, resistant, modern decorative surface. HPL is found in all aspects of our day-to-day lives and can be self-supporting or used bonded to a substrate. The application and usage areas of HPL are extremely diverse and are constantly evolving. This requires regularly updated information about different applications and processing techniques. ICDLI technical bulletins are a valuable source for this knowledge.

This technical bulletin is the first to deals with the question of how HPL can be recycled and processed. The ICDLI would like to thank the two authors Dr Arne Schirp and Dr Steven Eschig, Fraunhofer-Institute for Wood Research (WKI), Braunschweig, Germany for the scientific preparation.