Circular Timber Waste Diversion & Engineered Wood Recycling

Client:

Large Australian cardboard manufacturer

Stacked wooden planks in a warehouse or lumberyard with sunlight streaming through large windows.

Waste Type:

Engineered timbers

Client Overview

A global importer of engineered timber pallets, crates, and packaging partnered with Circular Futures Group to reduce landfill disposal, cut costs, and deliver a circular economy solution for composite timber waste.

Challenge: Engineered Timber Waste with No Viable Recycling Pathway

The client faced ongoing challenges managing engineered and composite timber packaging imported from overseas, including pallets, crates, and boxes bonded with various glues and resins.

Key challenges included:

No established recycling solution for composite engineered timber
High landfill disposal costs
Increasing environmental and ESG reporting pressures
Lost opportunity to recover valuable material as secondary feedstock
Misalignment with corporate sustainability and circular economy goals

Without intervention, all materials were being sent directly to landfill, creating unnecessary cost, emissions, and resource loss.

Approach: Material Analysis, Business Case Development & Circular Design

Circular Futures conducted material composition analysis and developed a commercial business case for on-site shredding technology. We then connected the client with a specialist recycling partner capable of using the processed timber as secondary feedstock.

Detailed analysis of timber types, composite structures, glues, and resin binders
Assessment of processing and contamination risks affecting recyclability
Development of a commercial business case to justify capital investment (CAPEX) in on-site processing technology
Evaluation of shredding and material size-reduction systems to enable downstream recycling
Identification and engagement of suitable third-party recycling and manufacturing partners

This approach enabled the client to process materials on-site before transporting them off-site, significantly improving logistics efficiency and recycling outcomes.

Outcome: Closing the Loop on Engineered Timber Packaging

Circular Futures successfully connected the client with a specialist offtake manufacturing partner capable of using the processed timber as recycled feedstock.
The recovered material was reintegrated into:

Cost savings
Sustainability - 100% diversion from landfill
Circular economy solution

This solution transformed a landfill-bound waste stream into a valuable secondary raw material, creating a closed-loop, circular supply chain for engineered timber products.

Impacts & Benefits

100% Diversion from landfill for engineered timber packaging

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Significant reduction in waste disposal and landfill levy costs

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Creation of a circular economy solution for composite timber materials

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Reduced carbon footprint by eliminating landfill and virgin material use

Supported domestic manufacturing using recycled timber feedstock

Driving Circular Timber Solutions in Australia

This project demonstrates Circular Futures Group’s expertise in timber recycling, waste diversion strategies, circular economy consulting, and sustainable manufacturing solutions.
By combining material science analysis, commercial modelling, and industry collaboration, we help Australian and global businesses turn complex waste streams into high-value resources — reducing landfill dependency and accelerating the transition to a circular economy.