Exploring the potential of Nipah palm frond as sustainable raw material for eco-friendly particleboard production

Efforts to reduce the use of solid wood have led to an increase in the production of wood-based products especially particleboard. The wood industry is now exploring alternative materials such as crop residue, agricultural biomass, and non-woody plants to meet the demand for the wood-based products. This article focuses on the potential of Nipah palm frond, an abundant but underutilized non-wood resource in Sarawak, as a potential raw material for particleboard. Since the research on Nipah plant is still relatively new, no commercialised products have been developed from this plant. Therefore, this review paper evaluates the properties of Nipah palm frond and its compatibility with particleboard processing parameters in order to produce particleboard for non-construction applications. Despite limitations in raw material properties, prior studies suggest Nipah palm frond particles can be used to produce medium-density particleboard. The article offers comprehensive rationale for product development and provides recommendations for processing parameters, offering insights into the potential of this sustainable resource in the wood-based industry.