Integration of Circular Systemic Solutions for Wood and Plastic Waste Valorisation in the Production of Insulation Materials: An Environmental/Sustainability Assessment

This study presents an environmental and circularity assessment of an integrated insulationproduction system that alorises plastic waste and wood packaging waste as secondary material and energy resources. The analysis evaluates the recovery of incoming waste streams and their reintegration into a new production cycle, while the downstream endof-life of the resulting insulation product remains outside the assessed system boundary. The process chain includes mechanical pre-treatment of wood (grinding, metal separation, and pelletising); thermochemical conversion via wood gasification and gas combustion; and post-combustion CO2 capture. The captured CO2 is used in the subsequent polymer processing stages, which comprise mixing, extrusion, thermal treatment, and cooling. Environmental impacts are evaluated through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), while circularity indicators are assessed within the framework of EN 15804+A2. The results demonstrate the environmental and circularity potential of valorising wood packaging and plastic waste in the context of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and sustainable material development.