SUSBOARD is a Horizon Europe Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Europe (CBE-JU) innovation project running from June 2025 to May 2029. It aims to develop a 100% bio-based, formaldehyde-free and cost-competitive adhesive for particleboard and medium-density fibreboard.

The main objective is to tackle the continued use of fossil-based adhesives containing formaldehyde, which are common in the wood-based panel industry but pose serious environmental and health challenges. SUSBOARD builds on the success of the SUSBIND project which achieved more than 80% renewable raw materials in adhesives. SUSBOARD will complete the transition by introducing a fully bio-based amine component (organic compounds with carbon–nitrogen bonds). This breakthrough is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of wood boards by up to 30% while eliminating formaldehyde-related health risks for consumers and workers.

There is also a strong circular dimension to the project: firstly, the carbohydrates and polylysine used in SUSBOARD's adhesive are derived from agricultural sidestreams, meaning that the process capitalises on secondary biomass. Secondly, removing fossil-based and toxic components will make it much easier to recycle and reclaim wood-based panels.