Exploring sustainable upcycled composite materials from agro-industrial food waste: Physical and mechanical properties analysis

Abstract Global waste generation will outpace population growth by 2050. Poor solid waste management practices are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity. The construction sector, a major consumer of raw materials, requires innovative recycling solutions to reduce its environmental footprint. This study explored upcycling food industry waste into sustainable composite materials for furniture and construction. Wastes from four food processing companies were utilized in a dry industrial process to fabricate composite boards using a commercial wood adhesive. Their mechanical and physical properties were tested according to EN 312 standard. Results showed that macadamia and mango boards with 50% resin met general-purpose (P1) and interior fitment (P2) requirements, while avocado boards met only P1 standards. No board met higher performance (P3-P7) specifications due to material limitations. The study strongly recommended hybridization of food wastes with cellulose-rich materials to meet properties for higher performance boards. Graphical Abstract