Reedboards™ by UNCOMMON REED

UNCOMMON REED transforms the locally abundant common reed into biodegradable, CO₂-storing panels, supporting Baltic coastal restoration.

Long description

Traditional board materials may seem eco-friendly due to their use of wood waste, but they contain toxic urea-formaldehyde glue, a carcinogenic binder. Reedboards™ offer a healthier, regenerative alternative, made entirely from fast-growing common reed, a local wetland plant. Human-driven eutrophication fuels excessive reed overgrowth, disrupting Baltic coastal biodiversity. While reed absorbs nitrogen, phosphorus, and CO₂, its low market value often causes harvested biomass to leak nutrients back into the water due to a lack of commercial use. Through responsible reed harvesting, we transform this overlooked biomass into regenerative materials, enhancing water quality and biodiversity. We developed binderless technology, a mechanical process that breaks fibers into microfibrils, binding reed with only water, heat, and pressure. The result is durable, 100% reed-based, CO₂-storing panels for furniture and interior design, fully biodegradable and usable as fertilizer. This circular bioeconomy project redefines common reed as a valuable resource, restoring ecosystems while creating sustainable solutions.