MDF

Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) is made from wood fibers extracted from wood residues and binded together with resins and wax at high temperature and pressure.

MDF was invented in the 60s in the US and in the 90s became widely adopted worldwide. The largest producer worldwide is China, followed by Germany and the US but manufacturers of MDF can be found in all continents except Africa.

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The life cycle	Pro	Con
	Low footprint MDF is mainly made of sawmill byproducts: woodchips and sawdust.	High energy The production of MDF requires high energy and pressure, comparable to particle board, OSB and plywood, but more than that used for drying massive wood. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that have low embodied energy Bamboo stems Construction site wood Reclaimed wood Scaffolding wood Second hand particle board Used pallets	Tips Look for E0 or formaldehyde-free MDF to be safer. These are a bit more expensive but a healthier solution. Alternatively make sure you buyu00a0E1 MDF.

	Low cost MDF is cheaper than wood and plywood as a paneling material Quick MDF is a uniform material, flat and without knots or irregularities. That makes it easy to cut and sand.	Toxicity The resins used in the MDF production, such as Urea formaldehyde resin or Phenolic resin are emitted as dust in the workplace. They contain unhealthy substances like formaldehyde and other VOCs. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are non toxic Bamboo panels Bamboo stems OSB Scaffolding wood Softwood	Tips Use masks and extraction equipment to avoid breathing dangerous dusts in the workplace.

		Short lifespan For load bearing applications MDF will last shorter than plywood and wood. It is also not resistant to humidity, although you can find a moisture resistant Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that have a long lifespan Northern hardwood Scaffolding wood Tropical hardwood Toxicity MDF offgasses some formaldehyde, a carcinogenic gas, when it is new. The emissions are highest in the first year. Look for E0 or formaldehyde-free MDF to make a safer product. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are non toxic Bamboo panels Bamboo stems Construction site wood Northern hardwood OSB Scaffolding wood Second hand particle board Softwood

		Difficult recycling No further recycling of MDF products is possible. They are usually incinerated or landfilled. Show Alternatives » Alternatives materials that are easy to recycle Bamboo stems Northern hardwood Scaffolding wood Softwood Tropical hardwood