Abstract

Green marketing in forest products (e.g., by certified forest products) can be done by forest certification while sustainable development may be seen as an opportunity in new markets. Innovations to meet customer needs in key markets have an effect on company competitiveness. The bioeconomy policy accounts very much for the sustainable use of biomass resources.

Sustainable development can include certification and trade. Green approaches to accentuate sustainable development and stakeholder collaboration is key to an emerging bioeconomy. Customers as stakeholders are linked with sustainable development and green business entities during the policy making phase. Marketing and communication in the green business sector is essential for sustainable product development and offers new market opportunities.

Likewise, strategy and policy are important to be competitive in the business environment. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy is one strategy that can enhance competitiveness and trade in the bioeconomy market, and can also be a driver in marketing and sustainable development.

This article is qualitative research based and covers research articles and literature found in key academic databases such as Proquest, Academic Search Complete [EBSCO], Agris, CAB Abstracts, SCOPUS [Elsevier], Web of Science [ISI] and Google Scholar and other internet sites).

The bioeconomy means the use of renewable biological resources from land and sea, like crops, forests, fish, animals and micro-organisms to produce food, materials and energy (EU 2021). International and national policies of Green Economy definition can be found at the UN, Green Growth at the OECD and the Bioeconomy at the EU Web pages.

Abstract

Partial (10% to 30%) substitution of soy flour in polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) resin substantially reduces platen sticking during hot-pressing of particle mats. Adding the soy flour to a fixed dose of pMDI (instead of substituting it) reduces platen sticking to an even greater extent. The soy decreases the tack of cured pMDI, thereby reducing the propensity of resinated particles to transfer to the platen. The tack reduction effect of soy on cured pMDI contrasts with its effect on uncured pMDI, where the cold tack is increased.

Abstract

The wear resistance and Janka hardness of five United States hardwood species were evaluated for potential use in bridge decking and truck flooring. The species tested include ash (Fraxinus sp.), hickory (Carya sp.), red oak (Quercus sp.), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and white oak (Quercus sp.). The specimens were prepared with the sizes of 1 by 2 by 4 inches (2.54 by 5.08 by 10.16cm) for abrasion test and 1 by 2 by 6 inches (2.54 by 5.08 by 15.24 cm) for Janka hardness testing. The specimens were cut from 30 individual parent boards of random width with clear sections for each species. The abrasion and Janka hardness tests were performed according to the American Society of Testing and Materials standards. All wear and hardness data were statistically analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance. The results of this study demonstrated that sweetgum with the lowest density had the greatest amount of thicknesses loss and thus lowest wear resistance. White oak was found to have the least thicknesses loss, thus highest wear resistance among the hardwood species tested. Hickory, with the highest density, had the highest hardness among the hardwood species tested, but it had relatively lower wear resistance comparing to ash, red oak, and white oak.

Abstract

This study evaluated the possibility of using different fillers—cellulose nanocrystal, cellulose microcrystalline, wood flour, soy flour, talc, and calcium carbonate—as partial substitutes in polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) resin. There has been concern recently regarding the use of pMDI resin due to the environmental effect of isocyanate, which is dominantly present in the resin, as well as the cost of the resin. Different fillers were used in this study as substitutes at their allowable substitution percentages. This study focused on the possibility of replacing more pMDI resin with biodegradable filler without compromising the integrity of the resin; the mechanical strength of plywood from both southern yellow pine and oak was evaluated. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted to study the effect of modification on the bond-line quality of the final product. The effects of different fillers on adhesion properties of the pMDI resin were tested on the plywood according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D–906-64) standard. The results showed that shear strength of the modified pMDI resins ranged from 0.3 to 1.083 MPa and 0.35 to 1.178 MPa for oak and pine plywoods, respectively. The modified samples with soy flour showed significant improvement in the shear strength with 261 and 236 percent higher shear strength than the control (pMDI) for samples from hardwood and softwood, respectively. Partial substitution of pMDI resin with soy flour at 30 percent substitution substantially improves the adhesion properties of pMDI resin.

Abstract

Surveys and studies show that more and more employees perform high- or low-skilled white-collar work predominantly in sitting postures. Therefore, comfortable sitting plays an important role in reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and other harmful effects. Research efforts focus on reducing these risks by designing ergonomic chairs with multiple adjustment possibilities, allowing the chair to fit to the user's body shape or assuring a dynamic seating where the user's lower body is in continuous movement. This article summarizes the results of a research effort that evaluated the effect of several factors on sitting comfort based on body pressure distribution. The effects of foam elasticity, foam layer arrangement order, and seat support elasticity were investigated as well as the chair seat type (kneeling chair, saddle chair). Results were used to determine the optimal chair cushion including the layered foam system and seat support type. On the basis of our findings a new ergonomic chair was developed combining the advantages of static and dynamic sitting.

Abstract

The lap shear test has been the standard for bond strength testing in plywood for years. Its goal is to predict the long-term durability of the plywood panels. This test has also been used for root cause analysis by mill quality management teams to identify issues. There are several problems with the test, two significant problems being, (1) the only bond tested is the one that is next to the veneer tested, and (2) the test is highly subjective to the accuracy of the kerfing. This paper will address the first problem, which is the larger issue. During the long-term exposure of the panel, the bond lines most likely to fail are the exposed surface or, more likely, the weakest bond. The lap shear test does not test all the bonds simultaneously, so there is no way to ensure the weakest bond is tested on each sample. The data included in this article clearly showed that there was a difference between the bond lines that would be missed in the standard lap shear test. Lastly, the main bonds tested are in the center of the panel; therefore, the result would be biased and may not be an accurate representation of how the panel would perform in the field. These deficiencies are remedied by shifting to the standard internal bond testing common in other wood products.